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 147:3 NIV).

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: 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 heals those wounds, but often there are steps he takes us through like these:

1) We open our hearts to Jesus and in his loving presence we ask him to search our hearts and identify the wounds. 

2) We tell him all about the wound and how we feel. Like David in the Psalms, we lament it in his presence. The sin that caused that wound really is a big deal and Jesus knows that. He wants to listen and comfort you. 

3) We forgive those who have wounded us.  We allow Jesus to help us to forgive them deeply from the heart. Sometimes we find the need to ask forgiveness or to receive it in such a way that we know we’ve been forgiven. 

4) We listen and receive his affirming words, his encouragement and we open our hearts fully to “abide in his love.” Take time in his presence to listen and experience his “healing love.” Seek the words of blessing from the Father. Sometimes he gives us a picture. He is so creative, but take the time to listen. 

5) We become wounded healers who can comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received. The wound is healed but a scar often remains and becomes a source of comfort to others. Your story of healing and freedom will be used by God to help set others free.

Sometimes God takes us through the process of healing our broken hearts in our private times with him, but it is often helpful to have praying friends who can be a part of the healing process.  In the process you all get blessed.

Jesus came to set you free from the bondage of your wounds.  Will you allow him to heal your heart and bind up those wounds? Open up your heart to him and he will do it.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing healing to my wounded heart and binding up my wounds. Help me to honest and open and take my hurts to you. Help me to lament them and then to leave them at your cross. Help me to forgive deeply from the heart.  Speak words of affirmation and healing as I wait in your presence. Thank you for the freedom and joy that comes from forgiveness and healing. In Jesus name, Amen.