“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

A broken spirit…
A broken and contrite heart…

Why a broken spirit? Why a broken and contrite heart? Why is it that a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart is a sacrifice God will not despise?

Why not a joyful heart?

That’s a good question.

Look at it from the opposite position.

• A broken spirit – A proud spirit
• A broken and contrite heart – A proud and unrepentant/defiant heart

Now you see why?

The pathway to joy begins with confession and repentance. It is when we see sin as God sees it and turn from our wicked ways that a life of forgiveness and joy is possible.

• A proud spirit, a proud and defiant heart will never confess.
• A proud spirit, a proud and unrepentant heart will never turn from their wicked ways.

Listen to what God has to say about a pride and a defiant heart.

• “I hate pride and arrogance” – Proverbs 8:13
• “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” – James 4:6
• “The LORD detests all the proud of heart” – Proverbs 16:5
• “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” – Proverbs 16:18

The pathway to joy begins with confession and repentance. God is a God who is for-giving.

God loves you. May we offer to God a broken and contrite heart that God may forgive and heal our hearts.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr is best known for his fight for justice and civil rights for all people. But what drove Dr. King to fight for justice was his love for all people.

Dr. King reminds us, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

In this season of the global covid pandemic, economic turmoil, political unrest, and our continued fight for justice and for racial equality, don’t forget the engine that drives our calling for change. Love – love for all people.

• Hate can’t change people; only love can do that.
• Anger can’t change people; only love can do that.
• Frustration can’t change people; only love can do that.

Let love shine Lakewood. When love shines, justice follows.

“I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8).

I will not be shaken.

Wouldn’t that be nice?

How can we live our days in such a way where the happenings in our world do not shake us to the core?

The text shows us how: “I keep my eyes always on the LORD.” It has to do with focus.

Corrie ten Boom said, “If you look at the world you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.”

God is always with us. There is never a moment when God is not with us. But we keep losing sight of God.

Stay focused. Keep your eyes always on the LORD.

God’s got this.