Vulnerability by Simple Submission?

This thought snuck in (ninja-ed access to) my head this morning, and quickly transformed into a possible revelation.

I was thinking about my recent visit to Montana, and the beginning of this discipleship season I have entered into. I was also half heartedly thinking about what a possible book name would be to communicate what I have been/am/and am about to walk in. The name "The Disconnect of the Heart" sounded promising, and then before I knew it I was thinking about the question my authority asked me. "Are you afraid of freedom?"

I know in my head the answer would still be the same... (yes, I am afraid of freedom), but I do not feel the same way about it that I did when I was confronted with it.

Then I felt vulnerable, exposed, transparent. Today I felt none of that. After talking to my authority about this, it was made clear to me that simply by being submitted, you gain vulnerability.... and through that vulnerability, you gain revelation into the inner workings of your heart.

This season has made me keenly aware of how much my heart has been disconnected from my spirit. Because of this, my heart is dominated by carnality, and I have only my head knowledge that such things are wrong to restrict me from falling into sin. The Holy Spirit is very present in my life, but I have become so calloused that I no longer feel that conviction when something grieves the heart of God. This is because my heart has become disconnected.

The Bible talks about how God takes our heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh. Why is the heart so important? We are told to Love the Lord our God with ALL our Mind, Heart, Soul, and Strength. I limited the knowledge of the Word, to simple head knowledge, making it restricted to the limitations of my mind. I love God with all my mind... I truly do. But I have neglected the heart.

And here is the thought that permeates through my head right now....

Is it possible, that I am having a hard time pressing into the realm of my heart, BECAUSE, my heart does not trust me? Or is it because my heart has been in a state of atrophy? The only emotions that flow through it currently are ones of carnality and selfish desire. Is this why I have not been able to feel or discern God's presence? Yet, while I was in Montana, submitted to authority, I went through a 'discussion' that had it come from ANYONE else, I would have become defensive, calloused, and probably walked away... and because I submitted myself in the midst of that, my heart became soft, and vulnerable... and I was able to gain revelation to much truth!

God says He will replace our heart of stone with a heart of flesh... by submitting, you keep your heart soft, or you soften it through submission, and as you do that, you gain that transformation....