Bible Reading: Psalm 50-52; Acts 27:1-25
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:17 (KJV)
A broken spirit means to be overwhelmed with sorrow while a contrite heart means to be completely penitent, feeling remorse and affected by guilt, deeply regretful and wishing to atone for sin. So a broken and a contrite heart means being overwhelmed with sorrow and feeling remorseful over a wrongdoing and seeking repentance from the sin. David wrote this psalm after he had been faced with his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband! In psalm 51:16, David states clearly “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it : thou delightest not in burnt offering.”
God is not as much interested in outward sacrifices of giving more to people and things of God, praying more or getting more involved in working for God as in a contrite heart. While these things are good, the condition precedent to them being acceptable to God is a clean heart which comes after a true repentance for sins committed and a desire not to go back to them again. Satan is aware that repentance is the way to freedom, so he tries all things to prevent you from repenting so that you can remain under bondage. 1 John 1:9 (KJV) says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
God is interested in those who are crushed in their hearts as a result of recognizing the enormity of their sins, their inability to help themselves and realizing their total dependence on God. Such people are ready to obey God even at the risk of their lives. That is why David said in Psalm 51:17 (KJV), “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Not only wilI God not despise such a person but will always look out for him. Isaiah 66:2 (KJV) says, “For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord : but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.” God will always be with them because they are His willing instruments. If they are in any challenging situation, God will arise to save them as stated in Psalm 34:18 (KJV), “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” And above all, heaven is the home of those with contrite hearts as stated in Isaiah 57:15 (KJV), “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
To get a contrite heart requires total submission to the will of God and willingness to spend and be spent for God. You can get to this stage by giving your life to Christ from a remorseful heart, studying the word of God, obeying it always and regularly fellowshipping with God.
Prayer point: Father, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, make my heart broken and contrite today as I seek for your kingdom.
Bro. Joel Ezeugo