He Heals the Brokenhearted

I broke my favorite glass a few days ago. It shattered practically in my face, as I had it sitting on the counter in front of me. I reached for something in the cabinet and a small glass jar fell out and right onto that favorite drinking glass. It was a mess, but I swept up and cleaned the counter of all the glass and moved on. At least I thought it was all cleaned up.

My foot started hurting the next day. I just figured the new pair of shoes I was wearing caused the problem. I changed shoes and it still hurt. Finally yesterday morning I took a much closer look at my foot. I saw a small dark circle. I rubbed the circle and could feel something there. I got out my flashlight, took off my glasses and looked closely. I saw dried blood and pressed in that area. Fresh blood showed on my foot as I squeezed the painful area. To my surprise a large piece of glass came out! Once I rid myself of the pain, totally extracting the source of it, my foot no longer hurts.

There are times when our favorite thing is shattered. It may be a friendship, a relationship, a ministry, a job or…. We hurt and wish it wasn’t so. We try to tidy up the mess and move on. The only problem with it is sometimes there is residual pain. We try to ignore it, walk over it, do other things but the pain lingers. We cleaned this mess up, we argue with ourselves. Yet the pain is still there. Everywhere we go we feel it. The pain will remain until we take the time to examine the point of the pain itself. That takes time, slowing down, turning off the distractions. We may have to let someone look at it for us if it is in a difficult place.

We have to let God look at our pain. He will examine it and through prayer and the Word we will be rid of the source of pain completely. Without His touch it will continue to fester and affect every other area of our lives. It may have looked like a minor thing but without the Lord’s intervention we are destined to remain in agony. We will hobble around in our life and never get relief. But when God touches our soreness, our pain, our agony of spirit mind or body, we are truly healed. We are healed so well that we can let new blessings come into our lives. We won’t be so worried about what might get shattered for we are intimately acquainted with the Healer Himself.

Oh beloved, don’t you think it’s time to let God have a look? Jesus went to the cross so that you wouldn’t have to carry the shards of hurts around with you. He doesn’t want you crippled or hindered in any way. It’s only when you let Him see the hurt, remove the pain and cleanse the wound that you can walk freely another day. Give it all to Him. He already knows and He’s waiting for you to let go. He understands the feelings you have about it all. He cares that you have been injured. But He wants you to be delivered of the hindrances to walking free. The momentary pressure of God’s work is worth the release of the pain. The closer you let God into the pain the more free you will be.

God loves you and He’s for you and He is the only Healer who can make things better and change the pain into His glory. Rejoice in His Truth as you live in the light of His healing touch.

Psalm 107:20 He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.

Romans 15:4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.

Psalm 57:2 I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me.

I Peter 5:7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

God's Word is Pure Delight!

What is it about ice cream that makes us want it, no matter how many times we’ve tasted it? I absolutely loved the homemade ice cream we made on the porch of my aunt and uncle’s house at the fire tower where my uncle worked. I always got to sit on the churn (I may have mentioned it before, sorry but it’s one of my absolutely most favorite memories of childhood).  Both my mother and my aunt had a secret concoction of canned milk, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Cooked on the stove, cooled and poured into the maker, a cousin would crank the handle of the machine until they could not turn it one more time. Carefully removing the towel that held the ice in the reservoir, we’d get ladled dollops of the most luxurious stuff.

There’s ice cream and ice milk and sherbet and sorbet. Chocolate, strawberry, cookie dough, mint and things you’d never think of on your own. There’s vanilla and for my way of thinking, you just can’t beat a bowl of good old fashioned vanilla. There are shakes and floats and frosties and smoothies.  Any way you slice it, ice cream is just wonderful. When a certain Arkansas brand of the luxurious concoction went out of business, people all around were in great dismay! What would we do without it?

If it’s so wonderful and we’ve had so much of it, why on earth do we keep going back for more? Why do we need yet another bowl full if we’ve had the best? What makes it worth return visits, loosened belts and frozen lips?

It’s because we’ve tasted it and it is good!  If it didn’t taste good, we wouldn’t come back. If it didn’t do something for us, we’d have none of it. If it was boring, bland and same ol’ same ol’ we’d probably move on to find something better, but for those who love ice cream there’s nothing better.

Just as ice cream cools the brow in summer and soothes the throat when feeling bad, the Word of God soothes our hearts and softens the furrows in our brows. His Word is tasty and highly valued. The Bible verses from Genesis to Revelation contain the finest ingredients that are out of this world. No matter how you serve it, something wonderful comes forth. If you need refreshing, it will refresh you. If you need encouragement, it will encourage you. If you need confirmation, determination, strength, endurance, perseverance, all of that is in the container of the Word. If you don’t know where to go, what to do, how to escape, you can find it there. If you’re hungry, thirsty, weak, or scared, one bite will begin to heal you, and set you free. Open the container and get a big spoon! It’s all yours for the taking! No one can stop you, there’s an unlimited supply and not one drop of it will harm you. Unlike real ice cream which contains those dreaded calories, God’s Word only contains health for your body, mind and spirit.  Eat fully and enjoy it completely for it’s the only thing on earth that will ever really satisfy.

Oh beloved, God is speaking to your heart this morning. You’ve tried everything. You’ve been left with no real change, no real purpose, no real enjoyment. Satisfaction, though sought by you with intense longing, hasn’t come no matter what you’ve partaken of.  Once you taste of the Word of God for yourself and behold its wonderful benefits, you’ll continue to come back for more! God says to you this morning, Come, beloved, I AM the One Who created you to enjoy My Word. I created you to live for Me in the Light of all that I AM. I will comfort you, feed you, heal you and let you return to My Word daily. My Word is available to you day and night. It will give you everything for life and godliness and as you become more and more reliant upon the Word I will use you more and more for My kingdom.

God loves you and His Word is your delight! Nothing else on earth will ever satisfy your heart, your mind or your spirit like the Word of God. Take a big helping every time you can, for it is the only spiritual food you will ever need.

Jeremiah 15:16 When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven's Armies.

Psalm 119:103 How sweet Your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.

I Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Psalm 119:140 Your word is very pure, Therefore Your servant loves it. (NAS)

God's Word is the Best Medicine!

Several times lately I’ve been reminded of how much fun it is to give medicine to children! What we did to our own to get the medicine down now prompts feelings of sympathy for the grandchildren. Regardless of the reaction kids have, the medicine must give administered so that they get well and feel good again. Kids will beg not to take it, they will insist they’re going to die, they’ll run, they’ll hold their mouths, they’ll hide and more! We as parents must at times resort to holding them down and while we don’t want to cause pain we ultimately must be the grown-ups and take things in hand.


We are God’s children and we have a vast and awesome realm to enjoy as His children. All the gifts He gives so richly are ours. All the fruit of the Holy Spirit are ours to exhibit. All the promises in Him are yea and amen! All the realities of the faith are ours to walk in. All the joys and triumphs and honor are for us. We are most blessed!

There are times when we as believers get sick. We may be down and out or just reeling from life’s problems and trials. Sometimes we just walk away from little things we know God is leading us to do or we keep doing those things we know He is encouraging us not to do. We find ourselves at the end of our self-made rope and wonder how we got there and if we can hang on. Our strength gets sapped and our heart gets heavy.

Lovingly, our Father in heaven administered the balm of Gilead to our wounded hearts and spirits. He also applies the Word to our errant ways so we can get back to where we need to be. He may even use circumstances that we try to run from or avoid – all the while He’s simply lovingly trying to get our attention, so that we can remain safe in His arms and in fellowship with Him always.

Oh beloved, are you running from God? Have you gone your own way and found it to be a dead end? Maybe you’ve reached the end of your rope and you don’t know how you’ll make it back. Being out of fellowship with God is a hard pill to swallow. Maybe you’re dealing with mourning or loneliness or rejection. You feel sick at heart and in your spirit. God’s medicine is worth taking for it always makes you better. Don’t remain heartsick! Let God administer His loving touch! You don’t have to go another moment with fear of your mistakes, worry about your future or regrets for your life – God is holding out His Grace Medicine for you today! It is full of the best ingredients and will bring health back to your heart and mind and spirit.

God’s medicine is composed of the finest spiritual ingredients - His wonderful grace, His unfailing love, His infinite care and His perfect will. Oh how He loves you! Oh how He is for you! Never oh never do you have to worry that God’s medicine is hurtful or won’t make you better for His Word is all you need beloved for a healthy life in Christ.

Proverbs 4:20-22 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.

Psalm 107:20 He sent out His word and healed them, snatching them from the door of death.

Jeremiah 15:16 When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven's Armies.

Psalm 19:7-8 The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living.

Life Can Get out of Adjustment! Time to Apply His Word.

My mother went to the chiropractor whenever she felt her back bothering her. He explained to her the importance of the spine being in alignment for your overall health. Poor posture could cause other problems. She wasn’t sure what he did on those visits, but she knew she felt better. The results were worth the trip to the next town for a visit.


Life can get out of adjustment. Things can begin to look out of kilter and cause us problems. Sometimes it’s just life itself that has us troubled. Maybe you’ve prayed and prayed for a situation but you’ve seen no progress. You’re about ready to give up. It could be that you are hearing bad reports about your life. Someone may have told you you’re worthless, useless, hopeless or more. You’re beginning to feel bent over from the weight of the things you’re carrying. It’s hard to get up and get out of bed because you’re just frazzled and tied in knots inside as you try to figure out how you got here, why you’re having trouble and when there will ever be relief.

Oh beloved! It’s time to run to the Great Physician for an adjustment! Let Him speak Truth into your life and get back in alignment with that Truth so that you can walk with power and continue on to Victory! God’s Word is your source of healing for your health, your heart, and your emotions. The Physician says that He hears your prayers and He delights in answering them according to His Word, so find the Word for your situation and cling to that! His Words to you are always full of love and He says you are beautiful, you are important and you are His! He will lovingly adjust your thinking as you take in His medicine, the Word of God. And each time you begin to falter, if you turn to His Word, the adjustment will come every time.

Unlike going to the chiropractor which requires traveling there and getting an appointment, hoping that you might be able to get a visit, the Lord is always on call and He’s only a prayer away! Thank Him this morning that He loves you and He’s on your side, for that’s all that really matters.

Psalm 119:25 I lie in the dust; revive me by Your Word.

Psalm 119:28 I weep with sorrow; encourage me by Your Word.

Psalm 119:172 Let my tongue sing about Your Word, for all Your commands are right.

John 17:17 Make them holy by Your truth; teach them Your word, which is truth.

Psalm 139:17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!

Ephesians 4:23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.