Healing the Brokenness
Psalm 51:16-19
We were entirely ready to have God remove these defects of character.
If we have sincerely practiced the previous steps, we have probably found enough pain inside to break our hearts. Facing the fact that brokenness is part of the human condition can be crushing. But if we've arrived at this point, it is probably a sign that we are ready for God to change us.
King David, as a young man, wasn't ready for God to change his defects of character because he didn't recognize that they were there. He prays, "Don't let me suffer the fate of sinners. . . . But I am not like that; I live with integrity. So redeem me and show me mercy" (Psalm 26:9, 11). He approached God on the basis of his own merit.
It wasn't until later in his life when he was confronted with his sins of adultery and murder that he was able to say, "I was born a sinner-yes, from the moment my mother conceived me" (Psalm 51:5). He also said, "You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one . . . The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God" (Psalm 51:16-17).
Jesus taught, "God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). God isn't looking for evidence of how good we are or how hard we try. He only wants us to mourn over our brokenness. Then he will not ignore our needs, but will forgive us, comfort us, and cleanse us.
We can't please God by what we do; he looks at the attitudes of our hearts.
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