Brokenness Article
Beloved Daughters of Rachel,
Recently, in the early part of the morning as my day was starting I noticed a very well-known preacher giving an interview on TV. I was immediately intrigued and wondered “What has happened to him?” I remembered him in years past as being very popular throughout the Christian world, radical, flamboyant, and the envy of many that were called to preach. I found myself whispering, “Oh Lord, a few years ago he suddenly disappeared and now he’s so changed.” “What happened to him?” As the interview continued, with trembling lips and voice cracking with emotion he softly spoke about the Love of God. But, the greatest change in him was the anointing. Even through the TV, the presence of God was tangible and more powerful than ever before. I went on to work but couldn’t get this preacher’s face out of my mind. So, I just gave myself over to praying for him. After a while, again I asked, “Lord, please tell me what’s happened to this man of God?” And the Lord whispered, “He’s broken.”
Oh Daughters, What is brokenness? I found a good definition that said, “Brokenness is the condition whereby our will is brought into full submission to His will so that when He speaks, we put up no argument, make no rationalizations, offer no excuses, and register no blame, but instead, instantly obey the leading of the Holy Spirit as He guides us.”
Brokenness is not just a “condition,” it is also a process-a very predictable, planned process from God’s viewpoint. When we are the ones being broken it is chaotic and confusing, it is painful and puzzling. God is in the very center of our circumstances, accomplishing His purpose which is (1) spiritual maturity and (2) maximum ministry.
Many people have the idea that if we have one giant breaking experience that it will last a life-time. Ladies, you better keep the bandages handy. Brokenness is a perpetual process… a process to keep us broken from self-reliance, self-glorification, and self-seeking.
As we begin to allow God to do a deeper work inside each of us, transforming us into the image of His Son, we find that our strong points can be in reality our weak points… because we allow them to marginalize God. Someone once said “EGO” is “edging God out.”
Let’s look at Peter. Every step of the way Peter was being broken.
Matthew 14:22-30 Peter’s faith was broken. “If it is you, bid me come.” But, in verse 30, Peter slipped into his soulish senses and sank. Here is Peter- bold, courageous, loyal, fearless, and determined and he nearly drowned.
Matthew 18:15-22 Peter’s rights were broken. “How oft? Seven times?” “No, seventy times seven.” Not 490, but on and on. Shattering the old Peter who had his limits.
Matthew 19:27 Peter’s expectations were broken. “What shall we have?” Jesus: “More than you deserve and more than you can imagine.”
John 13:4-8 Peter’s pride was broken. “Thou shalt never wash my feet.”
Matthew 26:51-52 Peter’s wisdom was broken. Peter drew his sword. Way to go Peter! “Put up the sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”
Matthew 26:33, 69-75 Peter’s self-confidence was broken. Broken, Peter goes out weeping like a little baby.
John 21:15-17 Peter’s self-professed love was broken. “Lovest thou me?”
“He was grieved.” Broken at every turn, Peter was put down, embarrassed, silenced, and humiliated. The last thing Peter wanted to do was give up the control of his life. He wanted to do it “his way.”
Brokenness is God’s process of bringing us to the place where we humbly say, “Lord, I get it now. What do you want me to do? How do you want me to live? Where do you want me to go? What do you want me to say? “My Lord, it’s all about You now… it’s not about me anymore.”
Precious Daughters of Rachel, agree with me as I pray,
“Lord, we ask you to “Break” us and make us into the women of God that You want us to be. We want to be most effective in praying forth Your heart, Your will, and Your purposes, for the up-building of Your Kingdom. We Love You Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen”
~Ellen Kanode
