He is Near to the Broken

After spending this summer in a somewhat secluded state of mind, God broke through to me in an unexpected way.  All summer, I spent time with just my kids (and husband when he was not at work) - no playdates, no hanging out with my friends, low activity on social media, etc.  Toward the end of summer, I kept telling myself I was alright.  I've got it together, school was about to start.  Then, the second week of school, the worship at church, and the message the Pastor preached stopped me in my tracks.

The message that day is what shaped this series.  "Now is the Time to Seek the Lord."  I won't forget it because it was the first time in a very long time that I heard from the Holy Spirit regarding me.  Well, probably more like the first time in a long time that I actually heard and listened.  I knew I was broken, and not as "all together" as I wanted to think I was.  But, it was also healing as God worked through that brokenness to draw me closer to Him.  

Truthfully, it had been a while since I spent time in the word, earnestly seeking Him.  My prayer life was mundane and didn't amount to much more than a quick praise and requests.  And, though I put worship music on in my house regularly, it was really just background noise, and not a way to enter in.

The point of learning that you are broken is to come to restoration in Him.  I didn't realize how broken my walk was, or how broken my heart was.  I didn't realize that I was holding on to hurts while trying to live a life right with God.  I was striving and going nowhere fast.  The thing about God is that He reaches into those broken places and brings healing.  

It was the first time I had a deep cry in God's presence in a very long time.  I couldn't even sing through the worship songs that were piercing my heart, songs that I love dearly.  They sang "I surrender all", and all I could do was raise my hands and weep.  I won't forget it anytime soon.  It was the day God healed my broken places that I didn't even realize I was holding onto.  He is near to the brokenhearted, and He does save those crushed in Spirit.  

Do you have broken places you need to surrender over to God?  Why don't you join me and lay them at the altar?  Let God mend the broken pieces as you seek Him.  

Father, you know our hurts and sorrows.  You are so faithful to be near to us when we are crushed in spirit, when we don't understand why things are the way they are.  Thank you for your promise to be near.  Today, we lay those hurts at Your feet and release them to you.  You have loved us with an ever-lasting love.  We praise You for Your goodness and mercy.  In Jesus Name, Amen!