O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help.
Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from honest lips.
(Psalm 17:1, NLT)

Have you noticed a common theme in the Psalms?  It almost seems as if the Scriptures are trying to teach us something.

About our condition.  About who God is.
About our inability. And about His ability.

We cry out for help.  We plea for God to listen and intervene.
If we are honest, we realize the quandary we are in, we understand our helplessness to get out of it.
If we are honest, we lay it all before Him.
Because we hope He will pay attention.

And He does, doesn’t He?
Our Heavenly Father hears the cry of a broken heart.
In His compassion and kindness, He is attracted to our brokenness.

His word calls us to come to him in raw honesty and brokenness:

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
(Psalm 51:17)

“Don’t rip your clothes to show your sorrow.
Instead, turn back to me with broken hearts.
I am merciful, kind, and caring. I don’t easily lose my temper,
and I don’t like to punish.”
(Joel 2:13)

He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.
(Psalm 147:3)

How awesome is that?
He won’t reject us in our brokenness.
He is merciful, kind and caring.
He will heal our broken hearts.

I recently prayed with someone who seeks to serve the Lord in his life. He currently works in a position in an area he loves but is facing a situation of misunderstanding that could reflect negatively on his character.
He asked for prayer because he fears further misunderstandings. He truly wants nothing to hinder his ability to be a light in a dark place and to be a positive influence in the lives of those around him.
He came to us with a broken heart.

As we prayed, Psalm 17 came to mind.
Lord, hear (his) plea for justice. Listen to (his) cry for help.
Pay attention to (his) prayer, for it comes from honest lips.

Where is your heart broken? What do you need to pour out to the Lord, with complete honesty? Has the Lord revealed an area in need of repentance? Or in need of His healing?
Ask Him to listen. Cry to Him for help. Seek His attention and be honest when He gives it. Pray, because you know He will listen.

Father, You are merciful, kind and caring. Show us your unfailing love in wonderful ways. Guard our hearts, protect us, rescue us. Heal our brokenness so we may see You more clearly.

Grace & Peace