July 9
Opening Up Your Wounded Heart

Today’s Scripture Readings: Psalm 147:1-11 | 1 Chronicles 7:1- 8:40 | Acts 27:1-20 | Proverbs 18:22

Today’s Scripture Focus: Psalm 147: 1-11

“He binds up the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147

The same God, who created the universe, cares about your broken, wounded heart. He is almighty and all powerful and all wise. But he is also compassionate and cares about the details of your life. He knows the wounds of your heart and it is his desire to bring healing: “He binds up the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” (Psalm 147:3-5 NIV)

Jesus revealed the heart of the Father for us as he stood up in the temple and declared his mission by quoting Isaiah 61:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” (Luke 4:18-19; 21)

At the heart of his mission was healing brokenhearted people, bringing freedom and deliverance to people that are bruised and banged up life. We all have our wounds and when we really open up our heart to Jesus, they will be exposed so that they can find healing.

Sometimes we pretend they are not there, but they do not go away through denial or through pious sounding words like “past is past.” They don’t even go away by quoting scriptures about leaving the past behind you (always out of context, by the way). Healing the broken heart is exactly the way God will enable you to leave the past behind you. Until you deal with it openly in his presence, it will always haunt you.

God is infinitely creative in how he deals with your wounded heart, but ultimately it involves taking those wounds to the cross and finding the grace to leave them there. It is often a process as we peel off layers of hurt, but transformation is possible in the presence of Jesus. May God give you such grace to take your wounds to the healer who was wounded for us all.

[Excerpt from Open Up Your Heart, to read the full devotional along wth 365 others, get the book from the kindle store at amazon.com]

365 Daily Devotions to encourage you in your daily time with God