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Wednesday 2 April 2014

Batter My Heart...

Last week was worship night. A night of singing and praying and worshiping the God of the universe. A night to fellowship and dance and be humbled before our Great King.

It is also a time that I have to serve with my talent, singing or playing the keyboard.

Last week I had the privilege of leading the songs Sweetly Broken, by Jeremy Riddle and 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord) by Matt Redman. 

Matthew 21:42, 44 says "Jesus said to them, 'Have you never read in the Scriptures: "The stone the builders rejected has be come the cornerstone; the Lord has done this and it is marvelous in our eyes"?'... Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed." 

When we fall on Jesus, when we totally and completely depend on Him and trust in Him, we are broken for him, broken so that He can put us together in a more beautiful way! We drink in his suffering because in order to follow Jesus we have to take up our crosses, sharing in the suffering of Christ, knowing that we are safe because we are in the hands of the One who knows what ultimate suffering is like. 
Then in turn, we bless His Name for all that He has done in our lives! Even through the suffering and pain, He is still good. We have a reason to sing, because He has made all things new. 

A good friend of mine wrote on her blog;
"Your heart will be broken in the process of being yourself - or just trying to figure out who you are... Remember that it is okay to feel hurt. Being heartbroken? It isn't a sin. In fact, the Lord is very passionate about binding up those wounds." ~Peculiar Treasures: lies & truths when it comes to beauty
Psalm 51:17 (paraphrased) says 'God doesn't despise a broken, but humble heart.' 

He doesn't despise you, beloved. He loves you and wants to help you. Will you let him?

I love this sonnet my John Donne. It rings with truth and goes beautifully with the song Sweetly Broken.
Holy sonnet XIV

Batter my heart, three-person'd God; for, you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force, to break, blow, burn and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town, t'another due,
Labour to admit you, but oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captiv'd and proves weak or untrue. 
Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy:
Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I
Except you enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

Break me, bend me Holy God. Heal me. Refine me. Beautify me. Chase me. Capture me. Free me. 
For your Glory.

Let me sing your truth.