Brokenness Denial

“Who knows why God allows heartbreak, but the answer must be important enough because God allows His heart to break too.”
― Ann Voskamp, The Broken Way: A Daring Path into the Abundant Life    


     I have seen it more than once.  People will admit they are imperfect.  To say they are not would be arrogant.  Of course we can admit that.  Fewer people can use the word broken.  And even fewer are able to tell you how they are broken.  Oh, they are willing to share the stories of who broke them, but not HOW they are broken.  And next to none, will tell you how they are going about healing.
     Thousands of people all over the world claim to be Christians, while their behavior is undeniably from the world.  They take advice from the world.  They do what the world does and then quote scripture about Jesus hanging with prostitutes.  Yes, yes He did, but He never paid them for sexual favors.  There is a huge difference.  Hang with them, but if you aren't doing it with the goal of introducing them to Christ then check your flesh.  If you want to hang with the world, you are broken.  
     Comfort should come from the Comforter, but when it comes from porn, alcohol, drugs, sex, food, TV, sleep, exercise, etc. etc. you are broken.  One of the most freeing things I have learned to do is check my motives.  If I am doing it for any selfish gain, I can't do it.  If I speak something to get someone to think how I want them to think, that's manipulation.  When you have been raised in a manipulative, judgmental family those habits are hard to break, but it can be done.  I don't catch it every time, but several times I day I would ask myself, "Why am I doing this?"  If it's not to make a life better, don't do it.  Soon you will find, you don't even have to check yourself as often.  Selfish motives, come out of brokenness.  Pure motives come from healing.  I am going to leave you with a teaching by Dallas Willard.  Love this man.  He has taught me a lot about my behavior and who I am.  Dare check it out!

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“In many cases, our need to wonder about or be told what God wants in a certain situation is nothing short of a clear indication of how little we are engaged in His work.”
― Dallas Willard, Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God