updates:
the letters is what this is called now.
the study is this tuesday at 7pm cst. join here.
the tent is coming soon. rsvp here.
Isaiah 61:1 (ESV)
1The 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, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
in this poem, Isaiah speaks for the Messiah, and as a result, speaks for us. we are after all called Christians, or little Christs.
last friday i was leading a prayer that changed my life. i decided to pray for people in hospitals, prisons, people with wayward children, and overall people in non-ideal situations. what would ensue the next day changed the trajectory of my life. it gave me a glimpse of what true heartbreak would’ve looked like, had God not been on my side.
heartbreak is such an important enough condition that it’s referenced a few times in the Bible. here are two more from Psalm.
Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
18The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
Psalm 147:3 (ESV)
3He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
so o, why all of this?
one of the greatest lessons i’ve learned is that your broken pieces are the very best thing to offer God. in fact, your brokenness is the most useful part of your soul to God. time and time again you see God using broken people to fix the world.
your brokenness is powerful. don’t waste your low moments, they are opportunities to lift you.
Your broken heart gives you a first-row seat in this scripture. the Lord is near to the brokenhearted. don’t just blast through that scripture. if you affirm the Apostles Creed, you affirm that Jesus went to the darkest parts of the earth after His crucifixion.
Jesus is not afraid of your broken pieces. He’s not afraid of your sin, or your foul mouth. there is no amount of darkness that Jesus has not seen and conquered. he is begging you to show it to Him. to cast your cares.
Scripture teaches this:
Psalm 51:17 (ESV)
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
like wow. really? i can offer my broken spirit, my broken and contrite heart as a sacrifice to God that He will not despise? well here have it all! take the shame. take the hurt. take the pain.
and guess what, 2,000 years ago He took it all on that cross and He’s wondering why you’re still trying to carry it.
friends, you’re still struggling with heartbreak or sin, because you have not given it to God. period. can you pray this prayer with me?
Father, i am carrying a load too heavy for me to bear. i exchange it with Yours, for Yours is light. take the shame, the guilt. take the sin. i refuse to be enslaved to what Jesus died to free me from. i am free, by you Grace. amen.
you brother in Christ,
o.
My brother, I’m on a flight tonight, will attend next session!