For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Isaiah 57:15
A broken and contrite heart is the spiritual state of a person that attracts the attention of God. It gives us an insight into who we are without God and helps us to surrender our agendas, objectives, interests, aspirations, and personality to God's will.
A broken and contrite heart is a state of heart that always leads to a new level of intimacy with the Lord. If we want consistent intimacy with the lord and walk by faith, we must crucify the outer man and be broken before the Lord. We must be broken in our will before God and be ready to do His will at all times. The scripture says, "The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18
Several people sometimes give the notion that they are trying hard to find God as if God is far away and they can not reach Him. Some other people will tell you that they are trying hard to change and turn a new life but not meeting up, sounding as if God is making things difficult for their transformation.
The scriptures tell us that there are certain people God can never ignore, this set of people attracts the attention of God... "A broken and a contrite heart These, O God, You will not despise." Psalm 51:17 Brokenness is the shattering of self-will and being completely sold out to God... While Contrite means a repentant and eagerness to give God what He wants, in the way He wants it. Brokenness makes us more open and useful to the Holy Spirit. It exposes sin and creates a godly dislike for sin!
It's good to be prayerful, it's good to be dedicated to church activities, and it's good to always study the Bible but all these without a broken and contrite heart can amount to self-effort and spiritual distance before the lord.
Kneeling or crying before the Lord doesn't mean we are broken before Him! Brokenness can also be described as coming to the realization of our limitations and our inadequacy outside of the help of God... It's mostly the reason that you find God choosing the most unlikely person for His special and uncommon assignment!
How can we manifest a broken and contrite heart?
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i) Humility: Recognize your shortcomings and limitations. Acknowledge that you need God's help and guidance.
ii) Surrender: Willingly submit yourself to God and His will for your life. Let go of control and allow Him to work in and through you.
iii) Honesty: Be open and honest with God about yourself. Share your struggles, doubts, and fears with Him. He already knows everything, but expressing it to Him helps foster a deeper connection.
iv) Vulnerability: Allow yourself to be vulnerable before God. Share your true emotions and feelings, even if they are painful or uncomfortable. Trust that He will meet you in your brokenness.
v) Repentance: Acknowledge any sins or wrongdoings and ask God for forgiveness. Turn away from those ways and strive to live a life that pleases God.
vi) Faith: Have faith that God can and will bring beauty out of your brokenness. Believe that He can use your brokenness as a stepping stone towards growth, transformation, and deeper intimacy with Him.
vii) Seeking God's presence: Spend time in prayer, Bible reading, and meditation. Seek God's presence and allow His Spirit to minister to you. Find comfort and strength in His promises and seek guidance through His word.
viii) Community: Surround yourself with a community of believers who can offer support, encouragement, and prayer. Share your challenges with trusted friends or mentors with whom you can easily share your brokenness and walk of faith!
ix) Gratitude: Cultivate an attitude of gratitude, even in brokenness. Look for the blessings, lessons, and opportunities for growth that can arise from challenging circumstances. Express thankfulness to God for His love, grace, and faithfulness in every situation.
The Benefit of A Broken And Contrite Heart!
1) It draws us closer to God: A broken and contrite heart draws us closer to God as we are reminded of our limitations without God. It is the acceptance of all we are not without the mercies and grace of God. The readiness to live a life of purity before God, dying to self and staying at the centre of His will. "Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
ii) Building Character: In moments of a broken and contrite heart, we become more open and receptive to God's guidance. It is during these times that God reveals the flaws in our character that may have been difficult for us to recognize or the realization of not doing enough to put an end to our weaknesses.
By acknowledging these shortcomings, we can then seek God's help in overcoming them. Peter was so confident in himself and believed he had everything under control. However, he denied Christ and later wept bitterly... his broken and contrite heart allowed him to see his weaknesses, leading to genuine repentance and God was able to use him mightily. (Luke 22:54-62)
iii) Igniting Purpose and Ministry: Throughout the Bible, we witness how people rise from their falls to accomplish great things for God. Refuse to remain in a state of your fall instead, allow God to transform your most broken and sinful moments into something that brings Him glory.
As we sincerely seek reconciliation with God and commit to not returning to our past mistakes, He helps us gain clarity, focus, and purpose. The experience of Saul on the road to Damascus exemplifies this transformative process, where God used Saul's broken and contrite heart, including his blindness to change his perspective and redirect him toward a life of ministry and service. (Acts 9:1-30)
iv) God's Dwelling Place: Our main verse for this message says it all... God dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones." A broken and contrite heart is one of the dwelling places of the lord; It is a place of humility. It is impossible to find a broken and contrite heart without humility.
Finally, a broken and contrite heart is not a sign of weakness, but rather an invitation for God to work in and through you.
PRAYER
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’