DAILY DEVOTION

                                   A WOUNDED HEART  

Ps.109:22 – “For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me."                                

In this life we will all be wounded. It is what we will do with these wounds that counts? What is it that breaks and wounds our hearts? People, family, friends, those we look up to, relationships. Because we love, we are wounded. People will hurt us, say things about us behind our backs, break our confidence and say one thing to our face then do the opposite. Does that mean we stop loving?

God wants to heal the wounded heart and bring wholeness. When hurt in relationships, we can react in either of two ways:

i) Withdraw and become bitter - How our attitude is to certain people or certain things happening around us will determine our behaviour. If we withdraw from those around us and allow a wrong spirit, it will cause us to be angry, and to be grumblers and complainers. How is your attitude towards the hurts in your life? Have you allowed yourself to become bitter or resentful? If you continue to harbour a bad attitude, it will grow into a root of bitterness. Deal with it!

ii) Surrender Our Brokenness To The  Master Potter, And Allow Him To Reshape Us Into A Vessel Of Honour Fit For His Use - When we keep a right spirit, we begin to see life in a different light. The only way we can be truly healed from the wounds of life is to surrender ourselves to God and allow Him to bring wholeness to our lives. Ps 51:17 says “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou will not despise.” God's salvation brought healing to the whole man but it is no good to us unless we appropriate it for our lives and release our hurts to Christ, the burden bearer.

Jesus is a wonderful example to us of someone who kept a right spirit in spite of those around Him who hurt Him. What about Judas, or Peter and the other disciples when they left Him in the garden. What about Father God with Adam and Eve or with the Children of Israel? God knew these people would break His heart, but He was still committed to love them.

In spite of how people will treat us in life, we have a responsibility to show the love of Christ to them and forgive them. We cannot afford to allow hurts to remain because ultimately, we are the only one that it affects.

Challenge  

How are you dealing with the hurts you have experienced in life? Have you allowed bitterness to build in your heart or have you released your pain over to Jesus and allowed Him to bring healing?

Prayer

Father, help me to always quickly deal with hurts when I have been wounded. Help me to keep a right spirit before you.