My Sacrifice and Covid

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. Psalm 51:17

An offering to God begins first and foremost in the heart. It is not at first a physical sacrifice, but a genuine desire to give something costly from the deepest places within. Arising from sorrowful conviction, the broken spirit is humble, tender, listening and teachable. A child of God has an open heart to hear God’s voice about his most inward, hidden sin.

Being broken is the realization of wrongdoing, an admission of guilt and claiming responsibility. It is an eagerness to do something about the sin, not just speaking sorry words from being caught.

The question is: are we truly sorry?

Broken has to do with a fierce expectation of major adjustments to my behavior, speech and attitude.

Broken accepts and doesn’t fight unchangeable circumstances and finds ways to be flexible, creative and positive.

King David wrote, “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken and contrite heart…”

Sacrifice is not ease of life, not always vying for my way, not high expectations, but accepting whatever comes.

Acceptance is a sacrifice. Peace and joy are offerings to the Lord. Leaning on Him to meet all our needs delights Him, especially in pandemic days like these.

In sacrifice there is a calling to go higher. A person with a broken spirit has ears to hear the depths of his own heart. He understands there is always further to go in his spiritual walk.  He realizes he should never stay stuck where he is.

“But I have reasons for staying where I am!“

My truest thoughts tell me that NO reason is good enough to remain stuck.

The verse says that God does not despise the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart. In Genesis 4, Cain gave a sacrifice that was unacceptable to God. Is it any wonder that my offerings must be genuine, sorrow-filled and generous. That’s why having a humble, repentant spirit is so beautiful to the Father.

Moving forward and not staying stuck in our sin is a way to acknowledge the One True God of all the universe. King David spoke to this Holy GOD. Who am ‘I’ speaking to when I pray? Do I think about this when I bow my knees to Him, or am I distracted, thinking about other things as I speak words into the air?

A contrite heart doesn’t stay stuck, but prays for rain (for good things to come). A contrite heart ‘prepares’ for that rain by getting busy with the important God-things at hand: simplifying one’s life, loving and serving one’s fellowman.

The results of having a broken and contrite spirit are many. One of the results is learning to refrain from having to defend ourselves, while not compromising who we are and who God made us to be. It’s pushing away our own arrogance and pride and promoting humility and gentle words.

Another result of brokenness is learning to take captive our thoughts and to have self discipline and joy in our trials.

So many good things are birthed from brokenness.

In light of a monster virus that has overtaken our whole world, what is our part in it all?

We must choose joy, confession and a broken, contrite spirit instead of fear, defensiveness and worry. All things God asks of me are health-promoting and spread faster and more efficiently than even the covid virus. And it has great, eternal (long-lasting) consequences.

This has become my goal in days that have become increasingly difficult and sometimes impossible.

Father, with you nothing is impossible. Your solutions are holy and right. I come to you and reveal the cries of my heart. Please forgive my wayward soul and bring me back into your presence. Take my brokenness, shattered into pieces with the sorrow I have for my sin. You’re the only one who can fully put me back together again (with your love and grace) to be a useful vessel filled with the strength of God. Show me the way to your glorious, shining light. Be a light through me for the world. Heal our world of physical ills, but even more, heal our hearts. Protect us from the evil one. In Jesus name, Amen.

Uplifting, Gentle Responses

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

I love the word gentle.
It’s such a peaceful word. Whereas ‘harsh’ is simply, well…harsh!

Harsh typically comes out of my mouth before I have a chance to think. It’s a spur of the moment action that gives into anger.

Then, there are gentle answers which take extra self-discipline. I don’t always want to spend that much energy. I want the easy road to simply give into my feelings and the perceived injustice of the moment.

Last week, I gave a kindness to a person, and she said, “I know you don’t just do this because we’re family, you do this because you love me.” She was right.

However, it’s also true that I don’t heed scripture just because it’s in the Bible. I follow these because I love my Father, and I trust Him. I trust that giving a gentle answer is better than a harsh one, but I’ve also experienced it!

Gentleness is a way to preserve my joy. It is my job to refuse to let joy be robbed from me, even in angry situations.

Sometimes, I’m not honest with myself about my anger. I’m like, “I’m not angry, I’m just irritated or frustrated.” Yet, my reaction is defensive instead of truly including and listening to the other person. My reply gives away what is in my heart.

In fact, my reply generally has NOTHING to do with the topic of conversation that bothered me in the first place and EVERYTHING to do with my heart.

When receiving instruction or advice (unasked for) should I not respond with gentleness? Could our different views be respected instead of smashed by my ugliness? Might the ill-timed comment be covered with love instead of defensiveness?

Sometimes anger isn’t because someone did or said something, it’s because I am having a bad day.

Gentleness versus unkindness helps to stop my annoyance.

There is something humble about speaking gently. There is even a hint that gentleness originates in my mind. If I am gentle to the other person in my head, than I can speak gently to that person when things aren’t pleasant between us. If I allow unkindness to run rampant, most likely, at the first sign of conflict, my words will not be gentle.

It all starts with my mind.

Sometimes, I need to learn to speak gently to myself. I make mistakes, too. God’s grace is so broad, broad enough, even for me. Speaking harshly to myself when I’ve messed up doesn’t do one bit of good and typically does further harm.

Father, I love you and I’m so thankful for your words of wisdom. You are kind to me, even when I mess up. Your compassion overwhelms me. Your gentleness inspires me. Help me to be like you. May my words float upwards to the heavens to glorify your blessed name. In Jesus name, Amen.