Living Broken Before God

Isaiah 57:15 NIV "For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy:“I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."

We are a mess. Each one of us has issues and weaknesses. Each one of makes mistakes. Each one of has sin that we struggle with. All of this is true this side of heaven. Romans 3:23 NIV "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".

God, however, is not like us. Genesis 1:1 NIV "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". He is all powerful, there is no weakness in him. There is nothing he can't handle. Psalm 147:4-5 ESV "He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names.5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure". Psalm 139:1-6 HCSB "Lord, You have searched me and known me.2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up;You understand my thoughts from far away.3 You observe my travels and my rest;You are aware of all my ways.4 Before a word is on my tongue,You know all about it, Lord.5 You have encircled me;You have placed Your hand on me.6 This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me.It is lofty; I am unable to reach it". He is all knowing. He knows everything about us. He knows what's best for us and exactly how to help us. Psalm 5:4 ESV "For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you." God is perfect and Holy. There is a sharp contrast between him and us, and because of our weakness and sin we are in dire need of him.

We are simultaneously in need of him and unworthy of him. We have no hope apart from him. God is fully aware of this reality, and if we wish to live with him, we also must become aware of this reality. We must be contrite, lowly, and broken before him. We must acknowledge our sin before him, and reach out for his help to change, because God in his infinite power and holiness has chosen to also dwell with those who are lowly and contrite, and that to revive them.

Luke 18:9-14 "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

Just as we should be contrite about our broken state, we must also have an insatiable desire to change and grow. Matthew 5:6 NIV "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,for they will be filled." Spend time each morning on your knees in prayer. Confessing your weaknesses and sins to God, and asking for his help. The confession will lead to brokenness, and the plea for help will lead to trust in God. This daily brokenness and reliance on God will transform us. We will learn to value our God over the things of this world. We desperately need that real and honest relationship with our Father. Without the humble admission of where we are, we cannot hope to change and grow.

Is confession a common part of your prayer life? Does brokenness characterize your attitude before God?