-> Will you help us Open a World of Opportunity?    
 Home > Articles > Timely Truths > "Broken Spirit"   
Broken SpiritBroken Spirit
by Alan Smith
Print This Article   Send it to a Friend

 
I have heard that there is a monastery in Greece perched high on a cliff, several hundred feet in the air. The only way to reach the monastery is to be suspended in a basket which is pulled to the top by several monks who pull and tug with all their strength. Obviously, the ride up the steep cliff in that basket is terrifying.

One tourist got exceedingly nervous about half-way up as he noticed that the rope by which he was suspended was old and frayed. With a trembling voice, he asked the monk who was riding with him in the basket how often they changed the rope.

The monk thought for a moment and answered serenely, "Whenever it breaks."

Help me as I strive to have a broken spirit.
We are shocked that someone would wait that long before changing the rope. It only makes sense that the rope ought to be changed long before reaching that point. But, it dawned on me that God operates the same way in our lives. If we were to ask God when He will change our lives, His answer might well be, "Whenever you break!"

You see, our lives can only change once we have what the Bible refers to as a "broken and contrite spirit." As long as we remain arrogant and determined to do things our way, God can't shape us and mold us. Like a wild stallion, we remain useless until we are "broken."

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted ... (Psalm 34:18 NIV). ... a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise (Psalm 51:17 NIV).

Father, I so often want to do things my own stubborn way. Help me as I strive to have a broken spirit, recognizing my shortcomings while humbly and willingly listening to Your instruction. In Jesus' name. Amen.

 
Share Related
Print This ArticlePrint this Article

Send it to a FriendSend it to a Friend

Heartlight encourages you to share this material with others in church bulletins, personal emails and other non-commercial uses. Please see our Usage Guidelines for more information.
Search

      © 2007 Alan Smith. Used by permission. This devotional was reprinted from Thought for the Day.

      Title: "Broken Spirit"
      Author: Alan Smith
      Publication Date: May 19, 2007

 
Timely Truths
 
 
Hundreds more articles
like this are in the
ARTICLE ARCHIVE
...or search to find an article by keywords:

  Visit our Sponsors

Heartlight only exists because of your support! Click above to visit a sponsor, or donate to join us in our ministry.

   
May we suggest...
The Power of a Praying Wife
by Stormie Omartian
The Power of a Praying WifeToday's challenges and pressures can make a fulfilling marriage seem like an impossible dream. Stormie Omartian shares how God has strengthened her own marriage since she began to pray for her husband concerning key areas of his life.

  Find More Books & Music:
Christianbook.com
Alan Smith Alan Smith ministers with the Church of Christ in White House, Tennessee and publishes the email devotional "Thought for the Day."

RSS Feed of All Heartlight ArticlesAll Heartlight Articles

'Timely Truths' RSS FeedTimely Truths

RSS Feed of Alan Smith's ArticlesAuthor Alan Smith

More Heartlight Feeds

Subscribe
Get Heartlight articles and devotionals by email FREE every day!
Daily Heartlight
Today's Verse
What Jesus Did!
Quotemeal

More Information

 

 

RSS Feeds  |  Advertising  |  Support Heartlight   |   Help  |  Contact Us  
HOME     topTOP HEARTLIGHT® Magazine is produced by Heartlight, Inc. HEARTLIGHT is a registered service mark of Heartlight, Inc. PO Box 7044, Abilene, TX, USA 79608-7044. Copyright © 1996-2009. Heartlight is supported by Westover Hills Church, Southern Hills Church, and loving Christians from around the world. Scripture quotations are taken from the Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. Used by permission. All rights reserved.