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We started talking about how brokenness relates to intercession in our last lesson, and I highlighted four important aspects of brokenness:
We already discussed the first two aspects in earlier lessons. So we will pick up the discussion at the third aspect.
Why We Must Embrace Brokenness
Brokenness must be embraced if we are to experience God's intended benefits. Psalm 51:17 says, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."
Brokenness is an important process that God takes each of us though at some point in our development. It is not intended as a punishment or as an indication that God is somehow displeased with us. The Lord uses brokenness to help us develop attitudes that draw us closer to God. Look at what God says on this subject in Psalm 34:18-19. "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all."
One definition of contrite is: Middle English contrite, from Latin contrtus, past participle of conterere, to crush: com-, com- + terere, to grind ("Webster's II: New Riverside University Dictionary," p. 306).
So why is this important to us as intercessors? It is because many haven't seen their prayers answered because we haven't offered God the necessary sacrifices to obtain their release. One of those is brokenness.
Brokenness isn't a religious act. There is a pseudo-brokenness offered to God by religious practitioners. Jesus rebuked such offerings: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also (Matthew 23:24-25) .
Religion deals with the outside rather than the inside. Religion holds the inside to be out-of-bounds; God is held at arms-length. Religion cannot regenerate us, nor tolerate God's meddling. On the other hand, brokenness removes the poison of hypocrisy from our soil. Broken vessels reveal their contents.
This type of brokenness must come from God. We can't see our own cracks because too much of us cover them up. Like someone when they first start a diet, it's difficult to see one's feet or the scale as we weigh.
For example, God may hone our ability to work under others. Time spent in the minor leagues prepares us to play in the major leagues. Look at the numerous jobs on Joseph's resume. Joseph started his working life as an arrogant, know-it-all youth. God has to remove our rough edges before His dream for us can come to fruition.
The values of a Christian employee, when tempered by brokenness, are the opposite of what the world holds true. Brokenness involves the removal of personal ambitions and agendas engendered in us by the world's values (1 John 2:15-16). Some of the ideals involve:
When we embrace brokenness, we walk into the place of God's provision. Brokenness allows God to teach us (1 John 2:26-28). Brokenness allows us to take up God's opportunities (Ephesians 2:10). Brokenness allows us to see the ways of God (Genesis 50:20). Brokenness prevents us from wrestling control away from God (Genesis 32:24-26). Brokenness allows God to co-labor on our behalf (John 15:5). It is obvious how this applies to prayer.
Above all, brokenness affects the spirit we bring into prayer. Sometimes we unknowingly bring spirits into our prayer time that are not of God. The Lord prunes these off us by breaking us. Some spirits camouflage themselves behind a stronghold of religious virtuousness. Others lie in wait beneath the resignation of unbelief--a stronghold created when we gave up on a prayer request God intended to answer, because the devil convinced us that God's delay was God's denial. Our clever enemy is quick to cover up his tracks and disguise his schemes as works of light.
How To Avoid Bitterness From Brokenness
So, how can you be broken without becoming bitter?
Forgiveness is one key. Joseph could have held grudges against many people: the brothers who sold him into slavery, Potiphar and his wife, Pharaoh's forgetful cupbearer, etc. Yet, after Joseph came to power, there is no record of his taking vengeance against anyone. Rodney Hogue, member of GodSpeak's leadership core and pastor of Community of Grace Church, has written extensively on the subject of forgiveness in many courses offered through GodSpeak.
Next, respect God's timing and order. Twice, David had the opportunity to kill King Saul. But he didn't. Instead, he lived by a code his son Solomon later put to words: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
After all, whose life do you think Solomon was reflecting on when he penned that proverb?
Then, don't fear the future, based upon the past. The Bible says: "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1)
This verse is a two-edged sword. Many think it prudent not to get their hopes up. They believe in the power of lowered expectations. That's a remnant of the Greek philosophy of Stoicism, plastered over with a Christian-sounding veneer.
When we judge our future course by a futile past, we lose hope, and nothing seems like it will ever change. Those feelings are reminiscent of the evocative lyrics in Otis Redding's, "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay."
On the other hand, the future can easily change overnight. Joseph was in prison one day, then promoted the next. Circumstances aren't forever; only God is eternal. We need to allow the Lord a chance to show what He can do (Ephesians 3:20-21). We need to let God to play out His hand. He is the God of the hope-filled future (Jeremiah 29:11). That foundation leads to optimism. And it leads to continued intercession, for why pray if it can't change our, or anyone else's tomorrows?