to the trusting ones...

'Our Father places His power
at the disposal of the child
who completely trusts Him.'
- Andrew Murray

brokenhearted...

Is it possible to have a broken heart and a whole spirit?

This is the thought that came to me in the early hours of this morning as I considered the myriad of challenges confronting me. It has been two years and seven months since my employment ended … 2 ½ years without a salary … three children to care for … two mortgages … and a grand total of five interviews from the countless job applications I’ve submitted.

Even so, I woke up thankful this morning – thankful to a loving God who has been right here at my side.

• Thankful for Jehovah-Rophe, my Healer, who has kept me in perfect health for 2.5 years without insurance – even though I was persistently ill and going to the doctor multiple times per month before this journey began
• Thankful for Jehovah-Jireh, my Provider, who has not given me everything I want – but who has been faithful to keep me and my family – supplying us with shelter, food, friends and FAITH!
• Thankful for Jehovah – Rohi, my Shepherd, who takes me by the hand and leads me through the storm
• Thankful for Jehovah-Shalom, my Peace, who has stabilized my spirit – even when my heart is broken and confused by the circumstances of life

And now I have come to this knowledge…

You can have a heart which is shattered in a thousand pieces and still have a spirit which is wholly complete in Christ.

The heart acknowledges everything which is occurring around you. It cannot, in truth, deny those things. Bad things happen and, when they happen, they hurt. The heart cannot help but to feel because that is how God created us … to feel. All throughout Scripture, we see where Jesus was moved with compassion and even wept on occasion.

Yet while the heart aches – and at times breaks – the spirit rejoices!

While the natural heart (the mind, will and emotions) can be broken, the true heart of a person, the spirit, can be whole. The spirit can be at peace because it is tied to the truth of God’s Word, it receives life-giving power from the Holy Spirit, it is covered by the blood of Jesus … it is bound to the heart of God.

Are you brokenhearted today?

There is hope! There is a God who can heal your hurting heart – and make it whole again. Psalm 147:3 says, ‘He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.’

I like the plain speech of the Message Version Bible which states in Psalm 34:18, ‘If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there; if you're kicked in the gut, He'll help you catch your breath.'

How powerful is that!

Yet that was not the most encouraging thing for me this morning. My strength comes from the knowledge that He guards and renews my spirit. And I would rather live with a broken heart than a broken spirit any day…

Understand that, if the spirit is wholly connected to God, wholly complete in God – He can fix every single situation which breaks the heart. There is a comfort in that.

Even as you face heart-breaking situations, God holds your spirit.
• He gives peace in the midst of the storm
• He causes joy to inexplicably well up in the shadow of sorrowful situations
• He provides hope in the middle of, seemingly, hopeless circumstances

God is near to the broken-hearted!

Be encouraged today…

'… I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love do not for a moment escape God's notice.’ Psalm 51:17 MSG

a simple prayer ...

My simple - but heartfelt - prayer for you today:

‘The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; the Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).’

Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)

revelation

Someone asked this week, 'What is revelation?’

As I thought about it, I came to the realization that many think that revelation is biblical insight and wisdom. They think it is a deep understanding of the Word of God. And, it is – in part. However, it goes further than just knowledge.

Revelation is relationship...

It is a tangible result of us pursuing God through prayer, study of the Bible and thoughtful meditation on how to apply His Word to our lives.

We all have close friends or family - those few special people who we know more about than any of their casual acquaintances could ever know – because we actually spend time with them. We have stood beside them through good times and bad. We have experienced with them, happy moments and sad. We have seen them at their worst, and they us. Yet the relationship remains. In fact, the relationships - in many cases - have grown stronger. Well, that’s how it is with God.

Revelation is a reward of intimacy where God reveals ‘secrets’ about Himself that can only be obtained by time spent with Him.

There will always be opportunities to marvel at the amount of revelation that a pastor or evangelist may possess. However, it is so important that we realize that God desires for everyone to know Him that way.

He says in Isaiah 45:3, 'I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness— secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord…’

He goes on to say in Isaiah 52:6, 'I will reveal My name to My people, and they will come to know its power. Then at last they will recognize that I am the one who speaks to them.’

At times He will use people to covey hidden truths about Himself and His Word. However, He desires a close and personal relationship with each one of us – a friendship - where He can reveal Himself fully and directly. And while there are times when He reserves intimate secrets or revelation about Himself, He promises to make those secrets known to those who will diligently seek Him.

He will share apects of His character and His desires - He will give us His heart.

Most of us have had earthly relationships, where we wanted to get to know someone better. We took time to find out what they liked and disliked. We went to people who knew them well to gain insight. But, most importantly, we spent time with them. We let them know how much they meant to us, that they were a priority in our lives and worth the investment of time and self. And the reward was a closer relationship.

That’s the way it is with God. He grants us earthly relationships so that we can understand divine concepts. He draws us into holy fellowship so that we can know Him and make Him known to others. How sweet is that!

‘When you come looking for Me, you'll find Me. Yes, when you get serious about finding Me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed.’ Jeremiah 29:13 MSG