Come to God with a Broken Heart
When your heart is broken… (when you are sad)
What makes you feel unhappy and depressed? Let’s say you have fought with your brother or sister. You yelled, punched, and cursed at your sibling. You know you did wrong. No peace in your heart. When you are broken inside, what do you do?
You would try various methods to be happy again
You may eat, watch a movie, or play a game. Or you may blame on someone else for your fault. ‘I know I did wrong, but my sister started first. She is worse than me.’ You try to make an excuse for your sins and to get rid of the guilt. (Guilt makes our heart unhappy. That’s why we want to get rid of it whether your excuse is valid or not)
Bible says, ‘it’s time to come to God.’ (Praise, read bible, and pray. Think about God)
You would say, ‘I know that pastor. But, I am not in a mood of prayer.’ ‘I am discouraged now, so I cannot worship’ ‘Leave me alone!’
However, Bible says, “The sacrifices God desires are a humble spirit. O God, a humble and repentant heart you will not reject” (Ps 51:17)
Are you broken inside? It’s time to seek God.
Read bible, Psalm 51. ( https://netbible.org/bible/Psalms+51# )
(For the background of this psalm, https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/david-and-bathsheba.html )
When you are discouraged for your sins, draw near to God (v1-6)
The author of this psalm was aware of his sins, always. (v3) That’s why he is asking mercy of forgiveness. What about you? Are you aware of your sin? As you come under a light, stain on your clothes becomes visible. When you come to God you will know more about your sins. (v4)
God want us to come to Him as we are. It is not to shame us, it is to make us recognize this truth. (if we come to God after self-cleansing, which is wearing the clothes of self-righteousness, we will not realize our sinfulness and God’s forgiving grace.)
As we come to God, we will realize that we are utterly sinful (v5-6)
We often think God wants our cleanness; but God more wants our frankness. As you come to Sunday service, do not hide anything. Do not pretend you are OK when you are not. Do not hide your guilt. Tell God how you think.
As we realize our utter sinfulness, then our prayer changes this way.
God will cleanse you, restore your joy, give you the power to obey (v7-12)
At verse 1-2, we prayed ‘forgive my sins.’ At verse 7, ‘wash me.’ Do you see the difference?
We pray God cleanses me, not my sin only
After we realized our problem is not wrongdoing itself. We are dirty by nature. We are sinners not because we have sinned. We are sinners by nature. That’s why we sin. Therefore, we pray, cleanse me and purify me. Unless God cleanses my heart, I will sin again.
As our heart is a spring of sinful thoughts and desires, we need God’s ever present forgiving grace.
We pray God accepts you and forgive you eternally (v8-9)
‘Because I am utterly sinful, father God, forgive my future sins as well. I cannot guarantee I would not sin again. I need your eternal forgiving grace.
Because sin keeps coming from inside of me, I might do mistakes and stumble occasionally. At my failures, please hide your face from my sins. Don’t look at me too closely. Remove all my guilt!
This prayer is so bold and trusting God’s forgiving grace. What a great freedom it is! This forgiveness is eternal acceptance regardless of your sins. We call this the confidence of salvation. Here is a story that explains about the eternal forgiveness.
There is a doctor. His specialty is curing legs to make a lame walk. Now, he saw a homeless boy who is crippled and cannot walk. He lives on begging. From his compassionate love, the doctor adopted him as his son and wanted to make him walk. After several times of surgeries, the boy was taught how to walk. The boy fell down many times when he tried to walk. However, his father doesn’t scold him because falling is expected for such a patient. Also, the father was patient with the son’s failures and didn’t lose hope. Father had a confidence his son will walk eventually, because he can make him walk.
When our heavenly Father adopted us, we were living among sins and totally sinful. Father God is curing our sinfulness and teaching us how to walk upright. We would fall again and again. However, Father God doesn’t get angry at us because that is who we are. God loved us and adopted us as though we are sinners. Nevertheless, Father God doesn’t give up nor lose hope. He can and will make us pure and clean. Eventually we will walk upright to give glory God.
Therefore, don’t be discouraged at your failures. That’s who you are. Rather, focus on God’s instruction.
As we know our inability to stop sinning, our prayer should be like these. ‘help me not to sin’ ‘I have a problem of addiction, help me’ ‘I keep doubting, help me’ ‘I am a fool, teach me’ (v10-12)
We rely on God for our joy, pure heart, and desire to obey.
Now, this man doesn’t rely on himself not to sin. Why do we keep sinning? Because we focus on the sin. Ex) focusing on a chocolate will lead you to eat it eventually. If you think about your sins and temptation, your sinful desire resonates with the temptation and causes you sin again. Focus on the Lord. Ask God’s help to follow God’s way.
When you experience God’s grace, you will love to evangelize others.
You will become God’s servant (v13-19)
You will tell your friends about God’s forgiving grace and lead them to God (v13). You will explain why we keep sinning and how to fix it. Come to God. If they know God’s eternal forgiveness and complete restoration of brokenness, they will return to God.
When you see a friend of broken heart and he hesitates to come to God, you will tell him that a broken heart is the worship God wants. (v17) ‘Are you a broken heart, humble spirit, repentant heart? Rejoice! God will not reject such a heart. He will mend your brokenness. He will restore your joy. He will empower you to obey God’s commands. Come to God!!!’
And, you will have a vision for His kingdom, the church of Christ. (v18-19)
As you experience overflowing joy and freedom, your prayer will be changed this way. ‘Restore my family, let them believe in Jesus. Give us a revival in our church. Let everyone meet Jesus Christ personally.’ Your heart will be burning for revival in your church, in this generation, for God’s kingdom.
If you are not broken inside, you would not have a chance God’s grace that puts all broken pieces together and makes it stronger and better you.
CLOSING
Are you a broken heart? Do not try worldly methods to make your feeling better. It is time to seek God. God will not reject you. God restores your joy, and makes your faith grow. You brought a broken heart but God will give you a joyful heart. You came with doubts but God will make you trust. Came with tears? You will praises. What a great reversal! That’s why we should come to God and the more so when we are broken inside.