Near to the brokenhearted

Reading for today: Psalm 51

“God’s true nature is to love people who are troubled, have mercy on those who are brokenhearted, forgive those who have fallen, and refresh those who are exhausted” (Martin Luther).

 

I used to facilitate an outreach program aimed at caring for international mothers and their children. Amazing volunteers worked alongside me to care for the mental health, physical, and spiritual needs of these under-served women and children.

I’ll never forget, one of the women, Alice, articulated our mission in this way: These women don’t need to be told that they are sinners, these women need to be told that they are loved.

Alice said this because as Christians we have a tendency to go to the broken, the lost, the hurting, and the lonely of this world and hand them the law. We do it to ourselves as well.

But Christ’s mission was to go to those who already felt the pain and weight of the law and offer them His mercy, His love, His forgiveness, His hope, and His righteousness.

God does not despise the brokenhearted. In fact, He takes our brokenness and fills it completely with His grace and forgiveness. He upholds us with His Spirit. And He wraps us up in His arms, forever holding onto us with His love.

“None of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned” (Psalm 34:22).

Dear God, Thank You for Your unbelievable love. Please forgive me for thinking that I need to be righteous in order for You to be a Savior. Deliver me from my loneliness, from my despair, from my broken heart, from my afflictions, and from my sins. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Amen.

Music is a powerful form of worship. Click on the following link to worship our Savior through the music of Elevation Worship – O Come to the Altar.

Day 2 – Psalm 34

Day 3 – 1 Corinthians 1:27-31; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Day 4 – Luke 18:9-14

Day 5 – Philippians 4:4-7

 

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a heart after You: week 5 (final week)

Reading for today: Psalm 139

David was a man after God’s own heart. For the last few weeks, we have been looking at the stories of David to figure out what it means to have a heart after God.

It doesn’t mean that we are better than the average guy. It doesn’t mean that we have it all figured out. It doesn’t mean that we’ll always do the right thing. And if we screw up, it definitely doesn’t mean that we’ve lost our chance.

You see, having a heart after God’s own heart is simply seeking Him above all else. And when you seek God, He will be found and He will change your heart.

So that when you are facing giants, you hold onto Him. When you are in the middle of an I-don’t-know-what-to-do situation, you beg Him for guidance. When you are in the wrong, you listen to Him and you adjust back to His will. When you recognize His blessings, you dance for joy.

And if you break His heart by turning completely away from His will, His Spirit will allow your heart to break as well. He will humble you, and you will ask for forgiveness, which He will graciously give. And then you will understand what is at the heart of God – His mercy, His forgiveness, and His unbelievable love.

Dear God, Please give me a heart like yours. Teach me Your mercy, Your forgiveness and Your amazing love. Amen.

This week begins the season of Lent, what better way to learn of God’s heart than to study and meditate on the mercy, forgiveness, and love that God showed through His Son, Jesus.

This week, as we prepare, we will read through some of the Psalms of David.

Day 2 – Psalm 25:4-10

Day 3 – Psalm 37:3-6; 23-24

Day 4 – Psalm 86:1-12

Day 5 – Psalm 103:1-13

 

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a heart after You: week 4

Reading for this week: Psalm 32

But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. ~ 2 Samuel 12:27

This week you will read about the lowest point in David’s life. As you read this story, though, you won’t feel sympathy toward him. Instead, your heart will probably go out to the man he murdered and to the child who died as a consequence. Then, you will start to question whether or not God had it right when he called David, “a man after my own heart”.

In the shadow of David’s shame, in the horror of what he had done, David even has the audacity to turn to God and ask for mercy.

This week as you read the story of David and Bathsheba and Psalm 51, pay attention, not to the grievous sins of a king, but to his process of restoration. As you read, look for these three responses: confession, prayer, and worship. Then answer the question: How is David’s heart like God’s, even through this tragedy?

*Hint: After this week, there should be no doubt in your mind that you too can have a heart like God’s own heart.

Dear God, My sin is always before me. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Amen.

This week let’s read about the whole story of David and Bathsheba.

Day 2 – 2 Samuel 11

Day 3 – 2 Samuel 12:1-14

Day 4 – 2 Samuel 12:15-24

Day 5 – Psalm 51

 

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a heart after You: week 3

Reading for today: Psalm 86:11-13

 

Abigail kneels before David by James Tissot

Hot-headed David grabbed his sword and called his 400 men to do the same. Without consulting God, David planned to bring down judgment on his worthless neighbor, Nabal. In the eyes of the world, he had every right to teach Nabal a lesson, but it was not the right that God had given him.

Thank God for Nabal’s discerning wife, Abigail. Her quick-headed thinking not only stopped David and his army from decimating her entire household, but she also saved David from bloodguilt.

Sometimes we stand at the intersection of God’s desires and our own. If we are so blessed to have someone intervene on our behalf, pay attention. Stop what you are doing, and thank God for his unsolicited guidance.

*Hint: As you chase after God’s heart, know that He is already chasing after yours.

Dear God, Thank you for putting people in my life who show me Your heart. Amen.

This week, let’s read David and Abigail’s full story.

Day 2 – I Samuel 25:1-13

Day 3 – I Samuel 25:14-31

Day 4 – I Samuel 25:32-42

Day 5 – Psalm 15

 

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Help!

Reading for today: Psalm 121

Last night I dreamed that I was in a small diner, eating homemade peanut butter cups. While I was enjoying this precious “me” time, the phone rang at the front desk. The manager of the diner answered the phone, looked around until she saw me, and then said with surprise, “It’s for you.”

I took the phone and heard my daughter crying. “Are you ok?” I asked. She couldn’t answer. “What happened?”

More crying.

“What happened? Are you okay? Do I need to come home?”

No answer. Just crying.

My daughter was in need of help, but couldn’t ask for help. When I woke up from my dream, I knew exactly what that meant. Because one of my biggest fears as a parent is that my children will need help, but won’t know how to ask for it.

My mother has said, if you are ever in need help, but have trouble talking to God, just cry out one word: “Help!” It doesn’t sound like a prayer. But it is. And God, our Father, has promised to hear our prayers, even the hurt, desperate, confused one-word utterances. And when we cry out to Him, He has promised to help.

Dear God, Help! __________________ Amen.

This week, let’s read about others who have cried, “Help!” For each story, record how they cried out, then if told, explain how God responded.

Day 2 – Exodus 3:7-12

Day 3 – Jonah 1:17-2:10

Day 4 – Luke 22:31-34; 22:54-62; John 21:15-17

Day 5 – Mark 9:20-29

 

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Positivity Training

Reading for today: Psalm 16

This Tuesday, I have staff development training on the topic of positivity in the workplace. We had a book report due in preparation for the training and the moral of the book was: positivity produces joy and joy in the workplace increases productivity.

According to the book, I can be more positive if I add three things to my daily routine. 1. Be grateful (each morning, make a list of things I am thankful for). 2. Exercise (30 minutes of increased heart rate will do). 3. Help others (by performing intentional acts of kindness).

The theory holds that once I am more positive, then I will have joy. When I have joy, then I will be more productive. And when I am more productive, then I live happily ever after. (That last part was my addition.)

In this line of thinking, I have joy because I am positive and do positive things. While I agree with almost everything we are learning, I know that, according to the Bible, joy is not an outcome of anything I have done. Joy comes from another source.

Joy is my reaction to God’s great love and Christ’s great sacrifice. Joy is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Joy is what motivates me to do everything on that list above.

Joy causes me to be grateful. Joy causes me to care about my temporal life and to remember my eternal life. Joy causes me to care about the needs of others.

So when I sit down in my meeting this Tuesday, I will be thinking about positivity and productivity like this:

• Because I know who I am in Christ, I have joy. Joy in the Lord naturally produces positivity.
• Because I know that God has created me to do good works, joy also increases my productivity, as I understand that my purpose in the workplace and in life is to spread His joy to others.

Dear God, Your joy is my strength. Amen.

This week, spend time understanding what true joy is and where it comes from.

Day 2 – Ephesians 2:4-10; Romans 15:13

Day 3 – Psalm 51:10-12; Galatians 5:22-23

Day 4 – Psalm 4:7; Psalm 21:6; Psalm 28:7

Day 5 –Habakkuk 3:18; John 16:20-24

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You are known.

Reading for today: Psalm 139

I have moved enough times in my life to know that I don’t want to move anymore. While it is exciting to have lived in so many places, there is something unsettling about feeling unknown.

When I am feeling unknown by those around me, it is so important for me to be reminded, that not only does God love me, but that He knows me as well.

Psalm 139 is all about God knowing you. Knowing you completely. He knows everything about you. He knows the exact moment you woke up this morning. He knows the first, second, and third thoughts you had in the shower. He knows which socks you’ll choose and whether or not you’ve ironed that shirt. He knows exactly what you’ll say to your child or spouse or coworker, even before you utter it.

He knows how many chocolate chip cookies you’ll grab and how many steps you’ll walk. He knows the paths you’ll take, even when you are sure you’re headed down another one. He knows the habits you have, the habits you’ll break, and the habits you’ll form. He knows why you can’t kick that cold or why your left ankle creaks.

Before others knew you, he knew you. He knows your first day, your last day, and the weather forecast of every day in between. There is nothing he doesn’t know about you, because he lovingly and intricately wove you together.

Utterly exposed yet absolutely safe. That’s what it feels like to be known by God.

Dear God, Search me and know my heart, see if there is any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen.

Day 2 – John 10:11-15

Day 3 – Jeremiah 29:11-13

Day 4 – Jeremiah 1:5; I Corinthians 13:12; Isaiah 43:1

Day 5 – I Corinthians 8:3; Nahum 1:7; 2 Timothy 2:19

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