A Broken Spirit

NOTE: This is from the devotional guide of our church, Filinvest Community Christian Fellowship. Today is Day Six of our Prayer and Fasting week.

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After the prophet Nathan confronted him for adultery and murder, King David confessed his sin before God. He wrote Psalm 51 about his humbling experience. In verse 17, we read: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (ESV) Simply put, a humble heart is an offering that God cannot refuse! How does a broken spirit look like?
Having a broken spirit isn’t about being dejected and walking around complaining about how miserable you are; it’s about getting yourself out of God’s way so that He can use you in the ways He planned. When you confess your sin and accept His forgiveness, you will be struck by His grace, and a song of joy and praise will rise up within you. [1]
To have a broken spirit means to humble ourselves before God. 

 We will not excuse the sins. We will not blame others for our faults. We will own up to our responsibility for what we have done. According to the Easton’s Bible Dictionary
The true penitent is conscious of guilt (Ps. 51:4, 9), of pollution (51:5, 7, 10), and of helplessness (51:11; 109:21, 22). Thus he apprehends himself to be just what God has always seen him to be and declares him to be.
We have to admit before the Lord we need Him to detox us, that we need His cleansing. The good news is we are assured of God’s forgiveness when we have that humble attitude. (1 John 1:9) Once we confess, God cleanses. And we will once again start to enjoy intimacy or closeness with God. 
I am the high and holy God, who lives forever. I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and repentant, so that I can restore their confidence and hope. I gave my people life, and I will not continue to accuse them or be angry with them forever. (Isaiah 57:15-16, The Message)
A broken spirit is not just something that we experience every time we sin. It is a lifestyle of humility. It teaches us to rely on His more-than-sufficient grace and wisdom and not on ourselves as we seek to obey the Lord day in and day out. 
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 Step #6 To Detox: Rejoice in God’s forgiveness! Go through Psalm 51 and underline the blessings of forgiveness. (For example, in verse 12, it says that God will restore the joy of our salvation.)

 [1] Michael Catt, Upgrade: From Adequacy To Abundance (Washington, PA: CLC Publications, 2012), 39-40. Emphasis added.

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