SWORD OF THE SPIRIT                                                                                               1093

“Brokenhearted”

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. – Psalm 147:3

To be brokenhearted means to be overcome by grief or despair. There are many things in this life that cause us grief and breaks our hearts. The passing of a family member or dear friend. The rejection by others, family or neighbor. The loss of health, possessions or job. All these things and more work to crush our spirit and break our hearts. Indeed, God anointed Jesus to bind up our broken hearts.

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted; The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. – Isaiah 61:1; – Psalm 34:18

If we are honest with ourselves we will acknowledge that much of what breaks our hearts is self-centered and has to do with our hurts and less to do with compassion for others. David writes as much in Psalm 69.

Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. – Psalm 69:20

As born-again Christians, we are to be like Christ in every facet of our life. We have to die to self, rejecting selfish desires and allow Jesus to open our eyes and hearts to see others through His eyes and compassionate heart. The Lord heals our grief and broken hearts and asks us to follow Him so that our hearts can be broken for what breaks His.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. – Galatians 2:20

What breaks the Lord’s heart?

Jesus wept; And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it…The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And…it grieved him to his heart; … And he looked around at them…grieved at their hardness of heart… – John 11:35; Luke 19:41; Genesis 6:5-6; Mark 3:4-5

Sin breaks God’s heart. Hardened and unrepentant hearts break His heart. Does it break yours? Are you comfortable being forgiven without repentance? Do you continue to toy with temptation to sin by making lifestyle choices that could trip you up?

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears… – Hebrews 5:7

Are your prayers self-centered or deeply compassionate interceding for others’ need of the Lord’s touch to heal, forgive, and save? Is your heart broken for the lost?

May the Lord heal your broken heart and break your heart for what breaks His.