As I read the devotion for yesterday in Streams in the Desert, it spoke so deeply to my heart, I wanted to share a portion of it with you today…The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God. (Psalm 51:17 NLT)
Those people God uses most to bring glory to Himself are those who are completely broken…
… It was once the poor widow broke the seal on her only remaining jar of oil and began to pour it that God miraculously multiplied it to pay her debts and thereby supplied her means of support. (2 Kings 4:1-7)
It was not until Esther risked her life and broke through the strict laws of a heathen king’s court that she obtained favor to rescue her people from death (Esther 4:16)
It was once Jesus took “the five loaves…and broke them” (Luke 9:16) that the bread was multiplied to feed the five thousand. Through the very process of the loaves being broken, the miracle occurred. It was when Mary broke her beautiful “alabaster jar of very expensive perfume” (Matthew 26:7), destroying its future usefulness and value, that the wonderful fragrance filled the house. And it was when Jesus allowed His precious body to be broken by thorns, nails, and a spear that His inner life was poured out like an ocean of crystal-clear water, for thirsty sinners to drink and then live.
It is not until a beautiful kernel of corn is buried and broken in the earth by DEATH that its inner heart sprouts, producing hundreds of other seeds or kernels.
Those who have been gripped by the power of the Holy Spirit and are used for God’s glory are those who have been broken in their finances, in their self-will, in their ambitions, in their lofty ideals, in their worldly reputation, in their desires, and often in their health. Yes, He uses those who are despised by the world and who seem totally hopeless and helpless, just as Isaiah said: “even the lame will carry off plunder.” (Isaiah 33:23 NIV)
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Gracious Father, how deeply I need to embrace brokenness. So often Lord, I hold tightly to the very thing that could free your Holy Spirit to do its greatest work in my life. Help me Lord, to relinquish any fear of being broken for Your glory. May I remember your faithfulness to me in times past, and may I trust you with a fearless, humble and repentant heart, available for the breaking that will most reveal Your glory. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Those who have been gripped by the power of the Holy Spirit and are used for God’s glory are those who have been broken in their finances, in their self-will, in their ambitions, in their lofty ideals, in their worldly reputation, in their desires, and often in their health. Yes, He uses those who are despised by the world and who seem totally hopeless and helpless, just as Isaiah said: “even the lame will carry off plunder.” (Isaiah 33:23 NIV)
# # # #
Gracious Father, how deeply I need to embrace brokenness. So often Lord, I hold tightly to the very thing that could free your Holy Spirit to do its greatest work in my life. Help me Lord, to relinquish any fear of being broken for Your glory. May I remember your faithfulness to me in times past, and may I trust you with a fearless, humble and repentant heart, available for the breaking that will most reveal Your glory. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
10 comments:
I can't explain how deeply this post spoke to me this morning...praying your prayer today :)
So very true! THis was a real encouragement to me today, friend. Thanks for sharing!
Brokenness is something we all need in our lives - not something we want to feel, but when we do become broken for God, He works His best in us. Beautiful devotion, Tracy, and my heart echoes your precious prayer at the end of this post! Amen!
Amen sister. I've long known and believed the same thing. Actually, I take it step further and say God really can't use anything that is not broken. To be broken means to be used by God. God has no real use for those perfected lives. How can He/you/anyone use something is perfect. Only the broken things can be mold and reshaped into something beautiful and no longer broken. His love also seeps through us. I often invision a vase that has been broken. God then puts it back together. Yet, you can see the pieces do not fit back together perfectly. That is so His love and His light can shine out of those wholes and cracks and spread to others. Praise the Lord for broken people and things.
Love,
Paula
God has spoken to me through your post and given me great encouragement about a situation with my parents and sister... thank you for sharing!
This theme of brokenness keeps finding its way across my path... I am reading "Brokenness" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, and in there she asks a question... Are you a broken Christian, not are you a good Christian, a faithful Christian, etc, but are you a broken Christian... it is when we are broken that God can work in us, use us, and shine through us...
Blessings!
this one spoke to me as i was reading it. only through being broken can we really move forward!
Wonderful post. Really good food for thought, Tracy. Thanks!
Thank you Tracy...I so love "Streams in the Desert"...I use to read them before the world of blog began(maybe I need to go back)! This one spoke especially to me today! I had been broken & spilled out many times before the Lord! With these words & examples, I have a much better understanding! Such a beautiful prayer. AMEN and yet in many ways, I
would say "no more" but thank You Lord that You were broken for me!
Last summer I prayed to really understand what it means to abide in Him. Now I know. But I wouldn't know unless I would have gone through a period of brokenness.
Am I thankful? Mostly. It has been a difficult road, but I believe God knows what is best for me and my family.
What a precious revelation. I never thought about all the broken things multiplying that you grouped together here. How inspiring!
I always think of the "treasure in jars of clay" combined with the story of Gideon & his army who broke the jars for the light to shine through, and gained a victory!
Oooh, it hurts, but worth it!
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