Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please once again take the time to take in a video of the group Casting Crowns singing the poignant song Broken Together touchingly lamenting the reality of many relationships and marriages … that only when we come together, even in our brokenness, can we experience the healing God has for us in His grace.
Highlight Passage Psalms 34: 17-18 [NKJV] …
17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of their troubles. … 18 The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite heart.
… David lament the closeness he felt from God in a time of brokenness.
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Highlight Context - Psalms 34: 4-18 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK …
… God is there to be our togetherness - even when we’re broken.
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Reference Passage #1 - Deuteronomy 31: 6 [NKJV] …
6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”
… God’s promise to His people in their trek to the Promised Land.
Reference Passage #2 - Job 2: 11-13 [NKJV] … USE THIS LINK ...
… Job’s friends did the right thing in his brokenness … before they opened their mouths … sometimes it’s best just to be there for someone, saying nothing … just being close.
Reference Passage #3 - Matthew 11: 28-30 [NKJV] …
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
… No one will ever be closer to us in our brokenness than Jesus.
My Journal for Today: Today’s Our Daily Bread author, Keila Ochoa, writes with such wisdom, … Many times we don’t know how to respond when others are grieving, and words may do more harm than good. Serving others requires that we understand them and find out what they need. Often we can help by meeting practical needs. But one of the best ways to encourage those who are suffering is to be near—to sit beside them and listen.
That’s what confronted Job’s friends when they came upon his brokenness and grieving (see Job 2: 11-13; and these three friends did exactly the right thing early in their time with Job; … that is, before they opened their mouths to give him advice. Too bad they didn’t just stay there with this broken believer, and refrained from trying to give Job their words. Just their closeness in his brokenness would have likely been enough.
Today, so many marriages and relationships languish in brokenness; and the song offering above, from the group Casting Crowns, carries so much wisdom [see/hear the linked song above] … that we can do much to experience healing when we’re just willing to experience our brokenness TOGETHER.
I pray that we all will take in the wisdom and offerings of God Himself in the Scriptures above, … the One Who will never leave us or forsake us - as He demonstrated with Israel and Job; … and above all, Jesus being the most perfect evidence that God is ALWAYS there for us … in all things and at all times … even when we’re in our most broken state. … So, if we’re feeling that brokenness today … go to Him ;… let Him be with you; … let Him heal you.
My Prayer Today: Oh, my Lord, … my healer, … my Friend, … just sit with me today; and then please take my burden and help me carry it as You have offered. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled Our Daily Bread, distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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