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.
“I’M ANGRY!” It’s a phrase I hear a lot these days.
Yet, I also hear and see many people who are sensing a bigger picture than the tension and stress they experience. They realize what is urgent in God’s eyes more than what is causing them anger. They don’t allow themselves to be distracted by feelings! School shootings brought one friend to her knees and moved her to form prayer groups instead of giving into defeat in her personal trials. Another friend sends out daily prayers for the President and our country. Several are constantly in their war rooms praying for their marriages instead of fighting their mates. Hearts are convicted to have compassion instead of self-pity. One hero of the faith is starting an online group for daily devotionals.
About 7 years ago, a new endeavor of mine was immediately followed by a heavy spiritual attack. I stood firm. Speaking in gentle compliance to what the situation called for, I marveled at the attempts of the enemy. Within 3 weeks, the situation righted itself without any help from me, other than my continued gentle responses. God took care of it and the new endeavor went forward in power, something that could have easily failed had I responded in my flesh.
Loving others can be painful. People let us down; they can’t always possibly be there when we need them. They may say the wrong things at times. They might move away or find new friends they like more than us. One day, they will leave us in death. Right now, without a doubt, they will at times make us angry.
Yet, I am witnessing Christian men and women refuse to hold back parts of themselves just because the pain of love is too big, too risky, or too invasive. They are refusing to allow themselves only to be the receiver of gifts of love, or to constantly be the one who sabotages other’s loving efforts towards them through nit-picking and arguments over every little thing. They no longer push people away, by saying, “You’re gonna leave me anyway; just get it over with!”
They dive into unconditional love (no matter that they are let down [I’m not talking about abusive situations] or that wrong things are said. They freely show thoughtfulness and connectiveness with no thought of having to be repaid. They grab hold of God’s hand and let Him lead them in how to love well. They spend their time refining their love more than any other skill. They concentrate on their part of loving by doing the hard work it takes. They stay in their marriages and fight the enemy (certainly, not all marriages survive; on the other hand many marriages revive on such a focus).
At times they wait in hopeful silence for loved ones to find their way back. Relationships, obviously, cannot be forced. They wait in prayer and anticipate the reunions and the warmth that once was there. They are committed for life, yet are surrendered to lean on God no matter what happens.
HATE is a horrible emotion that perhaps may be about deep hurt more than anything else. Apathy is the real enemy. Yet, it is being discovered by many that even apathy, along with hurt, are all able to be mended if even one pursues the hand of God more than over-needing or over-seeking the hand of the one who caused them hurt. It can all be mended (in God’s power) if pursuing the good of the other is there greatest joy.
These are examples that typically stir up anger in the deepest places of who we are. Yet, many heroes surround us who are taking the higher ground! They inspire us.
My husband shared the following. I thought it was pretty profound! “I am good at expressing my Hallelujahs; but Psalms helps me express my hurts and my hates. Am I in a safe place? Maybe. I don’t know. But God IS the safe place to express my hates and anger and resentments… and my hurts until I can again say, ‘Hallelujah. Christ saves.’“ By Eugene Peterson
A friend shared this song with me that matches the sentiment of the quote and then I have a few more thoughts to follow:
God is the one to whom we may turn in times of anger and pain. If we ask Him, He will guide us in how to respond.
This has been a nine-week journey studying the topic of anger verses peace! Many tears were shed at the start of this study and even now as it draws to a close. The lessons both stunned and convicted me. God’s arrows went straight into my heart. But I didn’t want this to end with simply tears and conviction; I wanted my life to change forever. I wanted my actions to bubble up from the deepest God-places within me.
For now, let’s turn to the lesson for today. Father, go before this lesson and help it to teach me and help it to bless my readers.
In Genesis 4:2-7, we’ve covered a great deal about Cain’s countenance and what all that means, but what about God’s face? Don’t you think that God must have been amazed at Cain’s angry response? “Why are you angry? …If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; …you must rule over it.” Can you picture the Father’s penetrating eyes and perplexed facial expressions as He spoke to Cain? Do you think God looks at us with the same bewildered look?
In Matthew 15:16, Jesus asked, “Are you still so dull?” (This was after Jesus had spoken a parable and His disciple Peter wanted an explanation.) Sometimes, I bow and shake my head and respond to Jesus, “I don’t want to be, but yes, sometimes, I am still so dull!‘
Yet, if God told me to “rule over my sin,” I would seek to please Him with my whole heart. Perhaps, however, I’m not so willing to take the higher ground in moments of hurt and anger. Those moments convict me; I’m really not as spiritual as I think I am. Am I willing to obey Him even in the hard times? (In the background, as I ask this question, the clock softly ticks, the dog barks in the distance; everything is so quiet. I let the silence convict me. I hear the voice of God deep in my heart of hearts.)
Again, I will share some quotes from the old commentaries:
Cambridge Commentary “The passage illustrates the progress of sin in Cain’s heart. Firstly, disappointment and wounded pride, aggravated by envy of his brother, lead to anger; secondly, anger unrestrained, and brooding sullenly over an imaginary wrong, rouses the spirit of revenge;thirdly, revenge seeks an outlet in passion, and vents itself in violence and murder.” [Imaginary wrongs have the worst affects on me than wrongs I actually see, feel and know. The enemy can have a field-day in my head, if I let him have control.]
Expositor’s Bible Commentary “When Cain went in the joy of harvest and offered his first fruits no thought could be further from his mind than murder…Great sins are not so sudden as they seem. Familiarity with evil thought ripens us for evil action; and a moment of passion, an hour’s loss of self-control, a tempting occasion, may hurry us into irremediable evil. And even though this does not happen, envious, uncharitable, and malicious thoughts make our offerings as distasteful as Cain’s.”
“…to continue in sin you must put aside His [God’s] hand.” (end of quotes)
Voices surround me; they say anger is unavoidable and people who control their tempers are dreary and unexciting. Life is more thrilling if I can tell the person off. Temper is deliciously luring! My flesh begs me to let my counterpart have it! Everything in me screams to let loose or to withhold myself in silent rage.
Before this study began, people shared with me how they dealt with anger. I was struggling with my own issues, and I remember looking up to the Heavens and crying out, “God, are you trying to speak to me through my friends? Is this truly what you want?“
But something in my gut simply didn’t feel right about their advice. No one needs to teach me how to be angry. Getting angry is something I do well without any help. Anger is easy! In fact, I did anger quite well for 27 years. I said and did anything I felt like saying or doing. Those moments never produced fruit; it only corrupted me and my relationships.
At the point of coming to this new study, I honestly didn’t want the poison back in my body. I’m not afraid of standing in godly anger when the few situations call for it. When that happens, I step forward without hesitation.
I have taken nine weeks to passionately have my heart cleansed. Cleaning out anger can be brutally tough and even sometimes impossible after years of letting loose of my emotions. I’m still seeking to give God free reign in the deepest, secret places of who I am.
The soft, inner voice of God says, “Yield to me.” If I continue in sin anyway, I am “putting aside His hand.”Seeking an adrenalin rush in my need for a temper tantrum is absolutely turning my face away from the face of God.
I cannot simply say to the Bible writers, “Ruling over sin may work for you, but not for me,” or “The need to rule over sin is just your opinion.”
The Bible guides and blesses me when I follow God’s ways. Oh, how I want to understand how much I miss when I make my own rules or want to wish something into being right just because it’s my preference. God’s word isn’t simply a suggestion or an opinion. His word gives abundant, enthusiastic, inspirational life beyond all expectations my tiny brain can fathom.
I don’t want to waste energy on frivolous fights! Without that misuse of my time, I have infinite options and opportunities to open my heart to the real thrills and joys of life.
As I sit here in my current, challenging situations and pray, I openly attempt to hear what God has to say. I feel His desire for me to take the higher ground and to love people well (most times but not always producing obvious crops of fruit) and to trust God with the rest. I’ve lived through a life time of temper; anger doesn’t work. I want desperately to discover God’s love more than to incorporate better zingers, perfected hot buttons, and fine-tuned arrows in the hearts of people close to me.
I want to speak the truth but in God’s perfected and fine-tuned love. When God calls for rare anger, I’ll do it. No questions asked.
Getting out of that kiddy pool and into God’s deeper oceans takes time, determination, and moments of intense prayer. The study has led me to explore courageous, profound truths that seem infinite in count. Thank you, Jesus for walking with us all.
Oh Lord, I bow to you and seek your truth as I turn to you and your word to combat the lies the enemy speaks to my mind. I give my imaginary wrongs to you. They are placed on the altar. Help me to face the irritations and resentments in life before they get out of hand and rule over me. May I never put aside your hand, but grab hold of it and not let it go. I can’t do this life without you. Help me to see the bigger picture when angry situations arise and to get busy in your kingdom with the work you have in mind for me. In Jesus name, Amen.
The other day, I was talking with a friend about the challenging things that can happen to us. As hard as they are, they end up becoming exactly what we need in order to minister to others in teaching and sharing our faith. We must go through the hard stuff to understand how people in similar circumstances feel.
Sometimes my life becomes so difficult, I don’t think I can make it through! When these moments become absolutely ridiculous (the 3rd or 4th shoe drops), that’s when I know I am in the midst of enemy attacks. Yet, God is with me! I am safe and cognizant of the fact that He will use the situation for His glory.
I love this verse: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Eph 6:12 NIV).
The rest of chapter 6 continues by instructing us how to stand in the day of trouble with the full armor of God!
Oddly enough, the challenges my friend and I talked about actually began to happen to me as I wrote today’s blog. It wasn’t funny to me, but painful. Anger is real. I have a long list of reasons why I felt justified to feel the way I did. I’ve already responded with the words I needed to speak. I’ve said all there is to say. I haven’t wimped out and skulked in some corner. But the bottom line is: God HAS even this seemingly impossible situation in the palm of His hands. He cares about me and about the people with whom I interact.
I texted my friend, ” Sometimes in the midst of the negative stuff, I get a thought that what I’m experiencing is about something so much bigger than this isolated event. But it feels humanly impossible to keep from cycling downward. I accept the negative as being part of whatever God is doing in the bigger places of his Kingdom. In other words, I allow myself to hurt, feel anger, cry (to be human), yet still godly in my responses, knowing that this will pass and much will be accomplished through it all.”
Then I pray, “Lord, I know I have to walk through this uncomfortable situation. It’s not going to magically go away. So in this moment, I thank you for the circumstance. I know that you are doing a great work in me for your Kingdom and your glory. I accept my pain, and fight, not flesh and blood, but the need to stay close to you and trust that you have this. I love that you are with me. I give my offering of acceptance, service and forgiveness to you. Even now, as I pray, you are revealing my pride in this situation. Please forgive me. Create in me a clean heart. Set my face to have joy. In Jesus name, Amen.”
“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed”(I Peter 4:12-13).
Anger can be stirred in me by anyone, anything, at anytime. In reality, the struggle has to do with spiritual forces at work behind what I think I see with my eyes or even feel with my emotions. It has to do with learning joy and revealing God’s glory.
The noisy world hollers at me to do things in the way of my flesh. But as we read last week, God’s ways are higher, and my job is to pray and arm myself with the full armor of God.
We have a big God who knows better than anyone else how to care for us. We don’t have to spend our time in anger at people for having brains and for using them in a different way than ours. Sometimes we misunderstand each other and when we try to clarify, the feelings can be difficult. It’s never easy, but it is reality.
In my situation, I have had a chance to retrace my steps with the help of a friend. And I can see with better clarity some things I would do over again if I could.
My mission now, as I choose to go forward is to release my life as an offering into God’s hands. Again, it is not easy, but it is right.
Let’s turn once again to our passage: Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord.And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it” (Gen. 4:2-7 NIV).
Cain brought “some” of the fruits to offer to the Lord. What else might have been in his heart as he went to his garden and gathered this offering together? How spiritual he must have felt with his fruit. How hidden were his sins.
It’s when I work with people, encounter tough times, or when something doesn’t go my way that my trueself is exposed, and I discover hidden things to address; anger, hurt, pride, fear. That’s when I am called to turn to God the most. I tend to turn sour when I don’t acknowledge His presence in my life.
It is wonderful when anger doesn’t take center stage of my heart. It’s also wonderful to have been through the ringer with anger and still rise above it before it gets to the deeper places of my soul. I waste so much of my life letting old stuff go round and round my head.
“Very angry” doesn’t simply happen in a moment as we’ve said before; it builds. Cain’s attitude had to have been old anger, stirred up once again in the moment.
Barnes Commentary Notes: “A feeling of resentment and a sense of disgrace and condemnation take possession of Cain’s breast.” [God never disgraced or condemned him, but that’s how he feels.]
“The Lord…puts [forth] a question which implies that there is no just cause for his [Cain’s] present feelings.” [Repentance is the only right response.]
“To do well is to retrace his steps, to consider his ways, and find out wherein he has been wrong, and to amend his offering and his intention accordingly.”
“Let him who is in the wrong retract at once, and return to God with humble acknowledgment of his own guilt, and unreserved submission to the mercy of his Maker; for to him who perseveres in sin there can be no hope or help.” (end of quotes)
Yes, we are reminded to retrace our steps and purify our hearts. We want to learn to handle everything that comes our way with God’s power and strength.
Jehovah God, I want to come to the altar with a pure heart. Teach me what it means to let go of having to rule over other people or circumstances, to manage them, and to have to always be right. Reveal truth about the state of my heart. I am broken before you; I want to listen to your word and your voice at the foot of the cross. Please remove all the distractions around me. Quiet my soul. And when the time comes for me to be confronted with life, arm me and make me a good soldier ready for battle. Bring healing to my ever-sensitive heart. Teach me how to be bold in speaking YOUR truth. Give me grace to be like you in mild, forthright and compassionate words for the purpose of drawing others to you. Help me not to make everything about me and my hurt feelings but about unity and love. May I then be willing to let it go into your hands. Guide me out of my negative thoughts. Teach me what true praise is. Lord, show me how to retrace my steps. Father. I am utterly depending on You this day for the cleansing of my soul and for the uprooting of sin. In Jesus name, Amen.
Psalm 4:4-5 In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent…Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.
Stumbling upon this verse during the week, I was astonished at how close the ideas compared to the Cain and Abel story in Genesis 4:4-8. Obviously, Cain had failed to stopand think before he flew into an angry rage.
Perhaps he was too busy listening to the dark, pitiful whispers of the enemy, something similar to what whispers we hear today: “You’re just being a doormat!” “You don’t have any backbone.” “Why should you let them treat you like that?” “You’re better than your brother!” “God isn’t being fair!”
Enemy whispers can be extremely powerful. Cain sincerely thought he had been wronged in some way. To search his heart in the silence and to mentally acknowledge the enemy’s lies might have been the greatest endeavors that would have set him back on track. Then, the real backbone, the greater courage, and the truest grit (contrary to what the enemy might have suggested) would have been to rise above his self-centered anger.
Anyone can lose their temper. Not everyone can be silent! It takes an inner spunk to walk away from a fight and not insist on being the center of attention.
How remarkable might it have been if Cain had made a different choice within the depths of his heart? Being silent to mull over the situation before speaking in foolishness is the stuff of true heroes! How might a more self-examined Cain have changed the course of history?
If only…
How might my own story change if only I take a moment to think?
On television, impulsive anger always seems to win. The spouse or the office manager or the friend is set straight, and the story ends with them apologizing and making it right!
In real life, anger typically doesn’t have that much influence; anger simply promotes more anger on both sides, provides much hurt that can never be taken back, and produces little fruit.
Godly anger may have similar results. Yet, one does the right he must do and then moves forward in confidence because of the truth of God.
Searching my heart in the night aids my desire to decipher between godly and ungodly anger and not to simply fly off the handle because it feels good. Searching my heart prepares me to bring right offerings of a pure attitude to the Lord, to put my trust in Him and not in other people’s fear of me or compliance to my angry demands.
My goal for this study is to speak the truth in respectful tones, choose good timing, to let go and trust God.
I want to give my very best to God even in times of negative emotions. How does the gift I give reveal the true attitude behind my gift?
Genesis 4 passage explains that Abel gave the firstborn of his flock as an offering to God. Inside what I consider to be my best gift, pursuing knowledge for what my “firstborn” is may point to the motives I have for giving my offering.
The lifelong answers to this question vary from day to day and sometimes, even from moment to moment. The firstborn of Abel’s flock cost him a portion of his livelihood. Giving, not only a lamb or two, but a specified quality of lambs, was a way to show faith that God would provide what the firstborn sheep had cost him. “I will wholeheartedly give up these lambs, though I have nothing to eat for my next meal, because you asked it of me. The rest is up to you, Father.“
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary quotes: “In all ages there have been two sorts of worshippers, such as Cain and Abel; namely, proud, hardened despisers…who attempt to please God in ways of their own devising; and humble believers, who draw near to him in the way he has revealed. There is not an angry, envious, or fretful look that escapes His [God’s] observing eye.”
The Pulpit Commentary quotes: “There was apparently no sorrow for sin, ‘no spirit of self-examination, prayer to God for light or pardon, clearly showing that Cain was far from a right state of mind’ (Murphy). Yet the Lord does not abandon the…transgressor, but patiently…instructs him as to how he too might obtain the same blessing of acceptance which his younger brother enjoyed.” (end of quotes)
These thoughts came to my mind as I read through the commentaries:
Cain’s ‘sacrifice’ reveals that he didn’t trust God’s provision and therefore didn’t give up his most prized possession, the first, the best of his stuff! God even provided Himself to Cain, as he does to all people, but Cain wanted more, though he gave only ‘some.’ Did he really want the favor of God or was he jealous of the favor God gave Abel because he simply wanted to be win?
Might all my ungodly anger have at its source an unacceptance from God after I have refused to wholeheartedly place a situation on the altar?Think about it! I need to learn to rule over what is at the root of my ungodly anger (disobedience or distrust). God cannot do this for me. I must do it!
An example: Since anger typically hits me by surprise, let’s pretend that in the next minutes ahead, I will have anger at a driver for cutting me off in traffic. My heart is irritated because I am late for an appointment and in a hurry to reach my destination. I didn’t sleep last night and everything seems to be going wrong. Here are my choices in general. I can listen to the lies of Satan: “You poor thing;” “Doesn’t anyone care?” “You are always doing all the work!” and on and on.These thoughts set the stage for the negativity to endlessly cycle into self-pity and frustration. My thoughts are not acceptable to God and can set me off in an angry rage, doing and saying things I later regret. Or, I can refuse the lies, acknowledge the truth of my circumstances and give them over in abandonment to God. I can praise Him in the storm. I can put my trust in a mighty God to provide for all my needs. This is an opportunity for God to show His power in me, and my reactions can become loving and patient, a sweet aroma to the Father. The latter is my life-long quest. Most anger can be curtailed simply by making my thoughts acceptable to God.
In what attitude might Cain have brought his offering? (Matt 5:23,24 – “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”) (Mark 11:25 – And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.)
These words follow the passage of how anger at a brother or sister is the same as murder, in God’s eyes.
Do you think this was the first time Cain had ever been angry with Abel? Perhaps today’s story was the last straw in a series of angry events that tipped him over the edge into complete madness. He had never faced the truth about his relationship with his brother.
If I don’t learn self-control over my negative emotions or how to redirect my thoughts, I will most likely murder my so-called offender in my heart.
Murderous anger, when found inside me, is able to disappear when I’m willing to repent, when I ask for God’s mercy and grace and when I do and act in right ways.
Lord God Jehovah, I bow to you. I let go. I bring my discouragements to your altar. I reverence your name. I repent and lay down my burdens. I give you my firstborn, …all the props I lean on for what I think will give me life. I strip myself of all else I adore in order to give my full adoration to you. I humble myself before you. I reject anger in my spirit and trustingly forgive. A new spunk is developing in me, and I praise you for the joy of such a strong, solid stance that stands with you. Please cleanse my heart to make me ready to give my offering in purity and light. Help me to be in right standing with my fellowman and with you. Instruct me this day in what you would have me do and say. Give me an unselfish heart that is jealous for you to be the center at all times. In Jesus name, Amen.
Search me, Oh God, and know my heart Psalm 139:23 (ASV) 