Helped!

Helped!

The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; And saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Psalm 34:18 KJV

The Context:

David was a fighting man, but there were times when strength could not help him. He was in the court of a king that could have killed him, but he had the presence of mind to fake insanity, so he was able to escape. One quick lesson for me here is never to rely on strength or force for all that God commissions me to do. God always works in a way to prove that He is God, and He gives victory to all who depend on Him. Life will happen to every one of us; there are times when you have done all you can, yet nothing will work. These are times that who you rely on will shine through, and your inner contents will be revealed. When the pressure comes, what will flow out of you? God helped David and he was able to escape, and then he wrote the words of this psalm. When God does all He does, am I grateful? When God steps into situations that are beyond me, what do I do to show appreciation for all that I have received from Him? I note that my heart is the place of the battle: I must sort out my allegiance and dedication to God in my heart before the trouble comes. 

The Charge:

How is my heart? Can it be described as broken? Am I in charge of it all, or can God make a demand on my heart when He pleases? Having a broken heart is to be helpless; recognizing the power and limits of sin and unable to deliver myself from sin. The human heart is defined as corrupt and desperately wicked and needs the touch of God to bring it to a place where God can use it to do what He wants to do. What is a contrite spirit too? It is a spirit that acknowledges its helplessness outside of God, and is receptive to all that which God offers. It is aware of its past, but is not bound by it; it knows who can help, and actively seeks the help of the only One who can give it what it really needs. Does the above in any way describe me? Am I content with where I am at the moment, or does God need to remind me of where I am, so I can see myself the way God sees me, and then take the right steps towards forgiveness, healing and redemption? Am I self-sufficient, confident in my abilities, capabilities and connections, or have I come to the point where God is ALL I seek?

The Conclusion:

I must note that God will not go against the exercise of my freewill, or compel me to choose Him. He will supply grace in abundance for me to choose Him, but it must come from a heart that has been broken, knows its need and comes willingly to God for help. God says he is near all those with a broken heart, because He alone has the right prescription for a broken heart. He saves all those with contrite hearts, because they are sorry for their past sins and desperate for His help for the future. By and of myself, I cannot overcome sin. By and of myself, the best way to me can lead down the path of disaster and destruction. I need the help and presence of the One who holds the whole world in His hands, and who can make the finest pottery out of broken and battered portions of clay. With God's presence comes a lifetime supply of grace, provision, protection and guidance for all that life will throw at me. Like David, the man after God's heart, I can also say: 'God came through for me when all hope was lost'. May God's help always be available. God's time of favour is here.