An 1,182-word inspirational article written by Evangelist Barbara Colbert-Brooks
PREVIEW:
Situation: Brokenness
• “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart…” Psalm 51:16-17.
• “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
• “Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.” Psalm 51:8
• “God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
Solution: Healing
• Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, For You are my praise. Jeremiah 17:14
• And Jesus said to him, "Go; your faith has made you well." Immediately he regained his sight. Mark 10:52
• “And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.” Acts 3:6-8
• And Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:2-3
• "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed...” Luke 4:18
Salvation: The Answer
• As for me, I said, "O LORD, be gracious to me; Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You." Psalm 41:4
• “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”
Psalm 139:23-24
• “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion…” Psalm 103:2-5
Reflection: Revelation
I have come to the realization that living in a world without walls can be a terribly frightening thing. Humankind has created a tradition of “anything goes,” resulting in mass confusion and unparalleled mayhem. We can spend our lives wandering from pillar to post, looking for love in all wrong places. Vainly searching for a way to fix what is wrong, to make sense of it all, crying from the depths of our souls for some glimpse of hope. But hope for what? Wholeness? Healing? Redemption? All the above, but unattainable, nevertheless. Yet so many fail to realize that there has always been a Master plan to satisfy this human deficit. A plan divine and unmatchable, set from the onset of creation. Still, so many also fail to realize that there has always been a Creator who likewise has a desperate cry for hope. A hope to win back the hearts of His creation. A hope to reconcile His beloved back to communion with Him. A hope to give us all a heaven not only when we are gone from this life, but while we are still yet dwelling here on this bitter earth.