Brokenness!

Taken from Watchman Nee's book "The Release of the Spirit"-"Why is it after so many years under the Lord's dealing, some remain the same? Some individuals have a forceful will, many have powerful emotions and others have a strong mind. Since the Lord is able to break these, why is it, after so many years, some are still unchanged? We believe there are two main reasons:

First, they live in darkness. Hence they do not see the hand of God. While God is working, while God is attempting to break their natural, soulish strengths, they do not recognize it as being from Him. They are devoid of light seeing only men opposing them. They imagine their environment is just to difficult, and their circumstances are to blame. So they linger in their darkness & despair. We must realize whose hand is dealing with us. It is not a human hand. Nor is it our family's hand. It's not the brothers & sisters' hand in the church. But it is Gods very own that is dealing with us, we must yield to this hand so we can learn & grow, mature & go deeper in Him. A process that comes from yielding not rebelling, remaining steady not running.

Second, another great hindrance in breaking the outer man is self-love. We must ask God to take away the heart of self love. As he deals w us we should respond from our heart not our head or emotions, our typical immediate way we respond to most things in life. Let us remember that the one reason for all misunderstandings, all fretfulness, all disappointments, is that we secretly love ourselves. Hence, we plan a way whereby we can rescue ourselves. Many times problems arise due to our seeking a way to escape--an escape from the working of the cross.

He who has ascended the cross & refuses to drink the vinegar mingled with gall is the one who knows the Lord. Many go up to the cross rather reluctantly, still thinking of drinking vinegar mingled with gall to alleviate their pain. They cannot drink of one cup, not two! Only such ones as these are the ones with out self love. Self love is a basic difficulty with most believers. May the Lord speak to us today that we might pray, Oh God, I have seen that all the things come from You. All my hardships these past five, ten or twenty years, are of You. You have worked to attain your purpose, which is none other than You living Your life through me. But I have been foolish. I failed to see this. I did many things to defend myself, thus delaying Your time. Today, I see your hand in all my situations. I am willing to offer myself to you. Once again, I place my life and self in Your hands!"

This book is insightful, educational, revelational & rewarding. A great read for every believer who desires to stay in the center of His will. Blessings on all who are pursuing the Master in Spirit & in Truth! Know God is using your brokenness to make you into His image, yield & be made whole now!