Brokenness: January 3, 2014

TODAY’S WORD FOR FRIDAY JANUARY 3, 2014.

BROKENNESS

DEFINITION:

Fragmented; overwhelmed; disappointment; weakened

SCRIPTURE:

A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. Proverbs 15:13.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Have you ever thought that God’s requirement for maximum usefulness for Him is brokenness? So often, Christians struggle to get to whatever they perceive as the top. But what most Christians do not understand is that God is not looking for a long list of accomplishments when you arrive in heaven.

What God is looking for in us is a broken spirit and a contrite heart. If attitude of our heart isn’t right, we can never please God no matter how great our accomplishments or how good we try to be. A broken spirit and a contrite heart is the result of recognizing we are lost sinners and being truly sorry for those sins. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despair.” Psalm 51:17

God never accepts us on the basis of what we have done but He receives us because of what Christ has done for us on the cross. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to stop depending on what we can accomplish and instead rely on Him. This is not only for our salvation but for every aspect of our life. He wants our heart broken.

When our children were corrected for doing wrong and were truly sorry they usually shed some tears and they would draw near looking for a hug and reassurance that they were still loved. Their tears showed their brokenness and their contrite heart. They desired to get back into our good graces. This is what a broken spirit and contrite heart does. It makes us want to run back to the one who will love us and comfort us and reassure us.

God wants us to repent for our sinful habits, self-reliance, and prideful desires until we can say, “All that I am and all that I have is God’s. He is in me and I am in Him, and that is all that matters.” When one arrives at this position, this is the brokenness that God requires of us for maximum usefulness to Him.

With the above comments in mind, what or who do you trust in more than the Lord? Do you fully believe that God will break your dependence upon anything other than Himself no matter how long it takes or how difficult the process may be? It is our brokenness that draws us to come to Christ on bended knee.

God wants us to know that brokenness is His requirement for maximum usefulness to Him. Next Monday we want to look at brokenness from a different perspective. Many friends like you are facing a time of brokenness in their life due to issues and situations or perhaps you are dealing with disappointments. We will discuss this next Monday. Have a blessed weekend.

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in II Corinthians 9:8.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have abundance for every good work.

PRAYER:

It is my prayer today that You would break my spirit to the point that I will come to You with a contrite heart so that I can be used by You. Help me to walk daily close to You listening to Your Holy Spirit guide and direct me through life’s valleys and over life’s mountains.