21 Days of Prayer (Renew, Rebuild, Restore)Sample

Rebuilding the brokenhearted 

It's unlikely that there is no one who has not experienced a broken heart at some point in their lives. It can feel like we are captives to crushing darkness in our minds and a heavy feeling in our hearts. There could be many causes for the heartache such as relationship breakdown, bereavement, ill-health in yourself or those you love. 

The theme of the later chapters of Isaiah is a message of comfort and hope for the exiles in Babylon. In Isaiah 61:3 it describes how there is comfort for “those who mourn” and “those who grieve”, “instead of ashes…. joy” and “instead of mourning…praise”. We all need to feel comfort and hope when we are brokenhearted and to know that we can rebuild our broken hearts. God does not want us to live in darkness and distress, He wants us to feel joy and to praise Him.

We may think at times that others cannot fully understand our distress, that unless they have experienced the same heartache they cannot truly know. However, God fully knows and through His Holy Spirit can give us compassion in our hearts to help those who are in need, to help them to rebuild what is broken and gain a sense of freedom and peace in their minds. 

Jesus read part of this passage during His first sermon in his hometown of Nazareth and interpreted it as a reference to himself in Luke 4:16-21. The passage also reveals the positive nature of the ministry the Lord wants His people to perform. We can turn to God in our pain and distress and he will help us to rebuild and recover, we can also turn to each other, to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to show God's love. When we reach out to others we demonstrate the spirit of Christ and we are called to follow his example.

Prayer Focus:

Father thank you that we can come to you and you will help rebuild our broken hearts, that you can free those who are in darkness and distress. Give us all the compassion and desire to give comfort and hope to those who are broken-hearted. Give us the opportunity to reach out to those who are in need today. Amen.