December 31, 2008
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The Often Unwanted but Necessary Gift: The Gift of the Broken Heart
Over the past year I have had some new readers come to my blog (and I appreciate each of you who stop by to read), so I thought it would be good to repost an entry I originally published a year ago on New Year's Eve, 2007, "The Often Unwanted but Necessary Gift: The Gift of the Broken Heart."
Praise the LORD!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.
2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars;
He calls them all by name.
5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding is infinite.
6 The LORD lifts up the humble;
He casts the wicked down to the ground.
Psalm 147:1-6, NKJV™
For all who have broken hearts this day...Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13.–Karen, 12/31/2008
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The Often Unwanted but Necessary Gift: The Gift of the Broken Heart
For all those who received broken hearts this Christmas...Suddenly God breaks up a particular set of circumstances, and the realization comes that we have been disloyal to Him by not recognizing that He had ordered them.
--Oswald Chambers
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
-Genesis 50:20For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
-Isaiah 55:8-9
From Relient K's "Let It Snow Baby...Let It Reindeer":I Hate Christmas PartiesI hope it snows this week,
A snowflake on your cheek
Would make this Christmas so beautiful
But that would just bring the pain
Cause things just can’t stay the same
These holidays won’t be wonderful(Chorus)
I look under the tree
But there’s nothing to see
Cause it’s a broken heart that you’re giving me
I can’t figure you out
Is this what Christmas is all about
Cause it’s a broken heart that you’re giving meI don’t wanna talk
I’m sick of all this talking
A broken heart wrapped up in a box
There's teardrops in my stockingI hate Christmas parties,
You offer me some punch but I just shrug
I hate Christmas parties
You and the cookie tray hear me say "Bah humbug"Fa la la la la la…la la la la la la [3x]
What did you find under the tree this Christmas?
Did you find a broken heart there?
I suspect not many of us have ever put "broken heart" on our Christmas lists.
We balk at having our hearts broken.
Don't go breakin' my heart...You're a heartbreaker
Dream maker, love taker
Don't you mess around with me!
Our own flesh cries out against the broken heart. We want to feel good. We avoid pain, heartache and heartbreak. We want the intact heart. We want to protect ourselves. We either run and hide, or we stay and fight. All to keep our heart in one piece. All to keep it from breaking.We don't want the broken heart–but isn't the broken heart one of God's most precious and most necessary gifts?
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.-Isaiah 57:15
The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. . . . The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.-Psalm 34:17-20, 22The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.-Psalm 51:17
I look under the tree
But there’s nothing to see
Cause it’s a broken heart that You’re giving me
I can’t figure You out
Yet this is what Christmas is all about
Cause through this broken heart I come to know You My stony heart needed breaking
For it was You, O God, I was forsaking
So this broken heart is what You've given me
Mired helpless in my iniquity
Your strong hand stretches and rescues me
Cause through this broken heart You quicken me I am vile–I cover my mouth
The broken heart is what Christmas is all about
Cause through this broken heart You indwell me In this valley of weeping
Living God my faint soul is seeking
Cause through this broken heart I cry out to You
Your gifts are not as the world gives
Cause it’s a broken heart that You’re giving me
Boldly I come seeking Your face
Approach Your throne for mercy and grace
Once hard, this broken soft heart now hears Your voiceBound and blinded by sin's blight
Your Glory has become my delight
Cause this broken heart is brought to the Light
Running back to my Father's house
Truly this is what Christmas is all about
Through this broken heart I come to myself, turnabout
I fall and kneel on the ground
This prodigal was lost but now found
Through the broken heart that You've given to me
Ring, robe and sandals are mine
Once a stranger, now a son of the Divine
"Abba, Father" is this broken heart's glad cry
A feast made ready through the Son
I partake freely of His Body and Blood
Cause this broken heart hungers and thirsts for You
Your gifts are not as the world gives
Cause it’s a broken heart that You’re giving meI can't figure You out
Yet this is what Christmas is all about
Behind this broken heart hides Your shining faceThrough this broken heart You give
You plead, "Seek ye Me, and ye shall live"
"Confess your sins, I am faithful and just to forgive."I look under the tree
Repentance, tears and bent knees
Those are the precious gifts that You've given me
Become a child in awe of Thee,
Born again Your Kingdom now I see
Eternal life is the gift that You've given meChrist died on Calvary's tree
Now His Spirit tabernacles in me
Through this broken heart that You've given meI can't figure You out
Yet this is what Christmas is all about
Jesus Christ birthed in this broken heart You've given me
Your gifts are not as the world gives
Cause it’s a broken heart that You’re giving me
I can't figure You out
Yet this is what Christmas is all about
Cause this broken heart prepares the way for You
When I am tempted to doubt
Remind me again this is what Christmas is all about
Cause through this broken heart You revive me
When tears stream down my face
Make manifest Your glory and grace
Through this broken heart that You've given me
May I entrust my heart to You,
Christ, Amen, the one Faithful and True
Neither peace nor rest I find apart from YouBroken hearted now I see
I should no longer trust in self but Thee
For all strength and comfort comes from TheeForgetting what is behind
Striving for the heavenly prize
Because this broken heart fixes my eyes on YouThis heart broken by Your cross
Helps me press on, count all things but loss
To lay hold of that for which He laid hold of me
Your gifts are not as the world gives
Cause it’s a broken heart that You’re giving me
In my flesh dwells no good thing
Yet now no condemnation through Christ's off'ring
The broken heart is what Christmas is all about
When I rely on earthly power
Break my disloyal heart that very hour
Cause a broken heart seeks resurrection power
Sanctify, circumcise my heart
Unholy and unclean leaven bid depart
Holy Spirit, kindle Your fire in this broken heartWhen against Your ways I fight
Restore me, make Your ways my delight
Through this broken heart that You’ve given me
I can't figure You out
Yet this is what Christmas is all about
Cause the broken heart turns me back to You
I look under the tree
By Your grace I can rejoice in Thee
Cause it's a broken heart that You've given me
Your gifts are not as the world gives
Cause it’s a broken heart that You're giving meYour gifts are not as the world gives
Jesus Christ lifted up high upon the tree
Draws all men,"Come, taste and see."Bids the weary "Come unto Me."
Calls to our broken hearts, "Come, follow Me."
"There is no other Savior besides Me.""Whom have I in heaven but thee?
And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee."
Come, break my heart until You alone are my heart's Desire.O, Lord God, help me to welcome the broken heart in the box. The gifts we opened on Christmas Day pale in comparison to Your gift of the broken heart. After we have opened those other gifts and discarded their wrappings, what really remains?
Only through the broken heart do You come to dwell in us in all Your fullness. You break our hearts for our own good and for Your glory. You break our hearts that we might have hearts to know You. You break our hearts to show us Your perfect holiness and our total depravity. You break our hearts to show us that You alone are the LORD and there is salvation in no other.
Only through the broken heart do You shape and mold our hearts into the image of Your Son. Only through the broken heart do You establish our hearts and make them steadfast, so we might trust in You alone. Only through the broken heart do You turn us so we might praise You with a whole heart. You alone are worthy of our wholehearted devotion.
Help us to entrust our hearts to Your keeping hand, to Your sovereign goodness and grace, for Your mercies are great.
And I will give them an heart to know me,
that I am the LORD:
and they shall be my people,
and I will be their God:
for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
Jeremiah 24:7
...for the turn of events was from God, that the LORD might fulfill His word...
II Chronicles 10:15b, NKJV™For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
-Jeremiah 29:11-13
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
-Romans 8:28-31Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
-I Peter 1:3-9...we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us...
-II Corinthians 1:8b-11Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word. . . . 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. 70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
-Psalm 119:65, 67-71
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel...
-Philippians 1:12
What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?
Job 2:10
For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. 12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.-Psalm 84:11-12
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
-Romans 11:34-36
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
-Isaiah 61:1-3
When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. 3 The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. 4 Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
-Psalm 126
"I Hate Christmas Parties," Matthew Thiessen, ©2003 Gotee Records.Lyrics are subject to US Copyright Laws and are the property of their respective authors, artists and labels. Commercial use prohibited.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible, except as indicated.
Scripture quotations marked "NKJV™" are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Comments (10)
Karen, this post was great. Perfect timing in my life too.
I have tried to write you several times on your blog, but couldn't remember my Xanga password.
I always enjoy reading your words of wisdom.
Lori
Lori,
Thank you for YOUR encouraging words.
Christ and Him crucified has become for us our wisdom from God. I Cor. 1:30-2:5.
I write to encourage myself with the basic truths of the Gospel that I too often lose sight of, but I know as I do so there are others (like you) who have similar experiences and I pray they will be encouraged and find comfort and consolation as we seek Christ together. II Cor. 1:3-7; Isaiah 35:3-4; Heb. 12:12-13. As we return to the LORD and fix our eyes on Jesus, as pilgrims we are strengthened to sing the LORD's song in this foreign land (Ps. 137:4).
Karen
Karen, thank you for reminding me...
I wish my friend Jodie was on xanga - she just lost her husband in a car wreck and this would be so good for her to read!
When Josh died I could not read more than a verse or two at a time. Psalm 34:18 became a lifeline for me in that difficult time.
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
I knew He was near to me then as He bound my broken heart with His own. I have never been more aware of His love.
@Biblerapture -Jim, you're welcome. We need to keep reminding each other and encouraging one another with such truths about God from God's Word.
@nicolevw -Nicole, please pass it along to her as you feel led...Praying for Jodie and for you as you minister to her.
@bronze_for_gold -Lynda, thank you for continuing to be a living testimony of God's faithfulness.
Sorry, I don't care for my broken heart. I'd rather have the husband that God brought me.
@blonde_apocalypse - Yes, I know.
Keep looking to the Lord and His steadfast love for you. Romans 8:18-39. Psalm 34.
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!
Psalm 27:13-14
(hugs) and prayers,
Karen
@naphtali_deer - Much needed words: wait for the Lord. Waiting in faith...
@blonde_apocalypse - Amen. II Thessalonians 3:5.