Daily Reflections

Without a Roof

October 3, 2022 Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God. —Psalm 51:17

If we want to live a lifestyle of humility and brokenness, we must learn to live with the roof off of our “house” and the walls down. One practical way to do that is to make a habit of acknowledging and verbalizing our spiritual need to God and to others.

Living with the “roof off” toward God is having a heart attitude that says, “It’s not my father, not my brother, not my mate, not my kids, not my roommate, not my boss, not the pastor—it’s me, oh Lord, standin’ in the need of prayer!” To live with the roof off toward God means that I no longer blame others, but I take personal responsibility for my sin. There is no brokenness where the finger of blame is still pointed at another; brokenness means no excuses, no defending, no rationalizing my sin.

When I acknowledge my need to God, I say:

Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling. 1

1 Augustus M. Toplady, “Rock of Ages,” 1776.

Make it Personal

Ask God to help you live with the “roof off.”