Broken Beyond Repair
Prayer 365 // Instrument of Purpose (Day 4)
More from this week:
Today's Scripture:
“The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful, a puzzle that no one can figure out. But I, GOD, search the heart and examine the mind. I get to the heart of the human. I get to the root of things. I treat them as they really are, not as they pretend to be.” - Jeremiah 17:9-10 (MSG)
Today's Devotional:
As instruments of purpose, after we go through the process of cleaning and restoration we recognize that although we've been cleaned up, there's still a problem. Somewhere on the inside of us there's an issue. Although we are clean, there's something that makes us feel unclean still. The thing that separates us from instruments that humans use and identified as instruments that God uses is that we have a heart. We're not like the trumpet or violin that are inanimate objects, what separates us is that we have a heart. Yes, we are living breathing creatures with a spirit and soul. And because we are living, that means we have to intentionally offer ourselves to be used by God.
The problem that we're experiencing – when we desire to do right but we just don't know how to or feel that it's difficult, that issue begins in the heart. There's something so significant about the heart that David said "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." He understood that there was something going on in the heart that was broken beyond repair. "So God I need you to create in me a clean heart because the one I have, no matter how much I try, I just can't get right. " This is why God says in Jeremiah 17:9 MSG that "The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful..." meaning it's always conniving and seeking to get its way, it'll hid and cover up to not be found out. Yes, the heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful. Then He says it's "a puzzle that no one can figure out." As much as you may try to figure it out, I promise you will be unsuccessful. If God says that the heart is hopeless, that means it's broken beyond repair. But even though it's hopeless, I want you to know that God will not leave you without hope.
In Ezekiel 36:26, He says, "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart." You see, God knows there's something wrong with our hearts. He understand that it's broken beyond repair, but He's not going to leave us in brokenness. He desires to use you but in order to do so, He must take out what was broken and give you what works.
Today, I want you to know that God desires to give you a new heart. He wants to give you a new heart. The old one was broken beyond repair. That's why every time you tried to do right, you couldn't. Perhaps you've grabbed the Bible thinking "Maybe I'll read a bit more" but that won't solve your problems. I can tell you from experience that reading the word alone won't work.
If you know anyone who's had severe heart issues, sometimes it's recommended to use a pacemaker. Pacemakers are used when to correct the rhythm of the heart, the cardiologist has them put in but understanding that it's a temporary solution because it's always possible that it can fail. You see the word (more specifically the law) is sort of like a pacemaker. It wasn't the fix, but a temporary solution to the problem of sin. That's why God did what the law was powerless to do, meeting our righteous requirement through Jesus (Romans 8:3-4). It's through Jesus that we given the power to become born again and with that new life comes a new heart. God knew that the law wasn't going to work, He knew that a pacemaker was just a temporary solution for the heart. So He said, "No, I'm going to clean you up, make you righteous and give you a new heart."
At a hospital, no procedure is done without the signed consent of the patient. Today, I don't have physical paperwork for you to sign, but there's one signature that God does accept and that's through the act of surrender. It's through surrender that He will convert the very room you're that you're in into an operating room. To exchange what was broken beyond repair for a heart that's powered by His Spirit. Lift your hands today in surrender and receive your new heart.
Prayer Focus: That you would receive the new heart that God has prepared for you through the posture of surrender.
I'm praying for you and with you,
Pastor Enrique Brooks
The problem that we're experiencing – when we desire to do right but we just don't know how to or feel that it's difficult, that issue begins in the heart. There's something so significant about the heart that David said "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." He understood that there was something going on in the heart that was broken beyond repair. "So God I need you to create in me a clean heart because the one I have, no matter how much I try, I just can't get right. " This is why God says in Jeremiah 17:9 MSG that "The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful..." meaning it's always conniving and seeking to get its way, it'll hid and cover up to not be found out. Yes, the heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful. Then He says it's "a puzzle that no one can figure out." As much as you may try to figure it out, I promise you will be unsuccessful. If God says that the heart is hopeless, that means it's broken beyond repair. But even though it's hopeless, I want you to know that God will not leave you without hope.
In Ezekiel 36:26, He says, "And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart." You see, God knows there's something wrong with our hearts. He understand that it's broken beyond repair, but He's not going to leave us in brokenness. He desires to use you but in order to do so, He must take out what was broken and give you what works.
Today, I want you to know that God desires to give you a new heart. He wants to give you a new heart. The old one was broken beyond repair. That's why every time you tried to do right, you couldn't. Perhaps you've grabbed the Bible thinking "Maybe I'll read a bit more" but that won't solve your problems. I can tell you from experience that reading the word alone won't work.
If you know anyone who's had severe heart issues, sometimes it's recommended to use a pacemaker. Pacemakers are used when to correct the rhythm of the heart, the cardiologist has them put in but understanding that it's a temporary solution because it's always possible that it can fail. You see the word (more specifically the law) is sort of like a pacemaker. It wasn't the fix, but a temporary solution to the problem of sin. That's why God did what the law was powerless to do, meeting our righteous requirement through Jesus (Romans 8:3-4). It's through Jesus that we given the power to become born again and with that new life comes a new heart. God knew that the law wasn't going to work, He knew that a pacemaker was just a temporary solution for the heart. So He said, "No, I'm going to clean you up, make you righteous and give you a new heart."
At a hospital, no procedure is done without the signed consent of the patient. Today, I don't have physical paperwork for you to sign, but there's one signature that God does accept and that's through the act of surrender. It's through surrender that He will convert the very room you're that you're in into an operating room. To exchange what was broken beyond repair for a heart that's powered by His Spirit. Lift your hands today in surrender and receive your new heart.
Prayer Focus: That you would receive the new heart that God has prepared for you through the posture of surrender.
I'm praying for you and with you,
Pastor Enrique Brooks
Did you know that Thryve Church prays together 365 days a year? Join us Monday-Friday at 6:30am & Saturdays at 8am for "Prayer at the Altar" by dialing 339- 207-7471 and then join us Sundays at 11am for Worship Service! Learn More