Close to the Brokenhearted

 

 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

     If you are brokenhearted, Jesus is close to you right now. Unburden your heart to Christ. Let Him hold on to your burdens and heaviness. He is able and willing to bear it with you and ease the load. He will use your pain to assist others, to bring others to Himself, to give comfort, just as He has comforted you.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the Lord of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort others in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

     God blesses us when we are a blessing to others. His plans and His purposes are good. Allow Him to work your pain and suffering for good. Only He can do this. Let Him help you find peace and joy again. Let Him give you tender loving care, as only a holy, loving Father can give.

     Watch what He will do next. He may use you for His good purposes, in ways you can’t imagine. As hearts heal, we can bring healing to others. When we are hurting, the process begins again. Until one day, our suffering will be done as His plans are fulfilled forever.

Lord,

Keep us focused on You, as You heal our wounds, as You comfort us when our hearts are broken, as You lavish us with love. We will be Your hands and feet as we walk in the world. There is so much pain. Show us how to help.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Reflections

 

     God’s word, the Bible, is living and breathing.

For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

     Miraculously, over time, God works in us to become more like Christ. We will never attain His righteousness, but the word of God is compared to a mirror. As we look into it, our reflection can change. Listen to these words from the half-brother of Jesus.

Anyone who listens to the Word and does not do what it says, is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it-not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it-they will be blessed in what they do. James 1:23-25

     (At this age, I want to forget what my reflection in the mirror looks like!) The word of God transforms lives. It brings peace, comfort and deep joy. It fills souls and keeps hope alive. It blesses us over and over again. We will never understand God completely, until we meet Him face-to-face, but He allows us into His inner sanctuary.

For now, we see only a reflection as in a mirror, then we shall see face-to-face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12

     How comforting to know that we are fully and completely known. God knows us more intimately than any other. And one day, we will see Him face-to-face

Jesus,

Teach us to “do” the word. Your word is alive and active, the bread and water of life for our souls. Give us a hunger and a thirst to know more about You, as You are reflected to us.

Amen

The Suffering Servant

 

     Over three hundred prophecies came to fulfillment in the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. These prophecies were written by numerous authors over hundreds of years, all through the Holy Spirit. Some of the prophecies were written by the prophet, Isaiah, more than 600 years before the birth of Christ. He tells us Jesus will be a man with no distinct features, a suffering servant sent to heal our wounds.

He grew up before him like a tender shoot and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces, He was despised, and we held Him in low esteem. Isaiah 53:2-3

     Jesus hid His glory for us, coming as a servant, with no distinguishing features and mankind rejected Him. But because of Him, our souls are healed. Here is more from Isaiah.

But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

     The Bible holds an astounding account of history, science, and truth. Not one jot, not one image, not one historical, archeological, geological or scientific fact, from the word has been proven false. Each prophetic word has been 100 percent accurate and there are more to come in the second coming of Christ.

     His footsteps draw ever closer and one day soon, evil will be vanquished and a new heaven and a new earth will be ours forever. Link your heart to the suffering servant. He found a way for us to be united with a holy God. He now lives in glory, forever, Lord of all.

Father,

The miraculous prophecies of old have proven true in the first coming of Jesus. Thank You for sending Him to pay the price for us. Your word shines as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. (Psalm 119:105)

Amen

An Anchor of Hope

 

     Crises and times of suffering can come upon us without warning, or seep into our lives gradually or may even cast their shadow over a lifetime. Several friends are dealing with serious health issues and another is finally dealing with a lifetime of hiding depression and anxiety.

     This is a fallen world. There is no escaping the tough times that may surround us. This time of the year can be especially hard. Jesus overcame the world for us. He conquered death and felt the sin, the disease, the evil, all of the suffering in His earthly body. We can’t imagine the pain He endured, the price He paid, and because of His suffering, He understands.

     Many times, we come to our knees at just such times of suffering. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to go another minute without recognizing my need for a Savior, a comforting friend, a loving Father, a living Lord, a conquering King.

     It can feel impossible to figure out how to comfort and support our friends and families, but no one on the planet can bring more hope and peace than Jesus. His hope moves us beyond this life, into the heavens; hope beyond anything this world offers.

     In addition, He can use our suffering. I don’t completely understand it, but looking back over the decades, I recognize His presence, His power, His ability to use pain to offer solace to others, kindred spirits in need of comfort. The God of eternity offers guidance along the way. He is our anchor of hope, our foundation in a world that can bring pain.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Hebrews 6:19

Father,

We need You to get us through. Comfort those who grieve. Bring peace to those in pain and let us know and understand hope eternal. Keep us anchored in You.

In Jesus name,

Amen

Eternity

 

     This earthly life of ours will end and eternity awaits. The missing piece of the puzzle here on earth is Jesus. Our deepest needs are met in Him as we learn to pray, believe, rest and love in Him. His deep peace and joy will abide with us as we recognize the truth of the brevity of life on earth and the certainty of eternal life.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has set eternity in the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

      Eternity is in our hearts. All we are missing is Jesus. Everything is made clear in Him. Set Your focus on Jesus. He invites you into a life on earth surrounded with His love and a promised life forever in a perfect new heaven and new earth. Why wait?

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe with your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life. John 3:16

Jesus,

We love You. We believe in You. We take rest in You and we pray to You. Take our hearts as we confess You are Lord.

Amen

Love

You are dearly loved by our God.

For we know, brothers and sisters, loved by God, that He has chosen you. 1 Thessalonians 1:4

     He has called you by name:

He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10;3

He surrounds you:

You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Psalm 139:3

His love is perfect:

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

He is always with you:

So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

He loves you with an everlasting love:

The Lord appeared to us in the past saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with unfailing kindness”. Jeremiah 31:3

And nothing, not ever, can separate you from His love.

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Romans 8:39

Dear Heavenly Father,

Your perfect love surrounds us. You presence hems us in. We are Your dearly loved children. Nothing, not ever, can separate us from Your everlasting love. You shared that love with us through Jesus, our Lord.

Amen

 

Rest

I have suffered and continue to deal with insomnia. Anxiety and sleeplessness began when I was a teenager. My dad died suddenly in his sleep when I was just fourteen and I felt my world slip out of control. It is easy to become fearful and overwhelmed in the middle of the night as the clock slowly ticks away the hours. Our bodies and our souls need rest.

     When you are frustrated and tired, list some of God’s promises to us and feel His presence and His peace.

The darkness has no power over our God:

Even the darkness will not be dark to You. The night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You. Psalm 139:12

He cares for me:

Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

He is always present:

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. James 4:8

He promises rest:

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

When you lie down, you will not be afraid. When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs3:24

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in You. Isaiah 26:3

     Have some verses ready to battle your way through Satan’s attacks, through the fear, the doubt, the sleepless nights. His promises are real.

Lord,

You watch over us. Darkness is as light to You. You are present with us with your everlasting love. Keep us in perfect peace.

In Jesus name,

Amen