Brokenness

We have been studying Nancy Leigh DeMoss' book, Brokenness, in our class on spiritual growth. The following is a response to one of our discussion questions. We have to be broken, before anything can happen in our spiritual life.

The most meaningful part of Chapter Five to me was DeMoss' discussion of revival, and the Hebrides revival. One of my seminars last fall at the Olford School was on evangelism and revival and we discussed many of the revivals. It holds great interest to me because I believe we are set for a great revival in America beginning here in New England. I was impressed that the Hebrides revival began by spiritual leaders praying for the youth of the islands who had no interest in spiritual things and scorned the things of God. We see that same situation here in New Hampshire. Yet, God did not send revival until the leaders themselves became broken. I sense that when we preach on "If my people, who are called by My Name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I..." we focus on prayer and seeking God and turning from our wicked ways, yet we do not emphasize the first command. We don't really preach on humbling ourselves, yet that is the first and most critical command here. God would not have put it first if that was not first in His list of priorities for us to access His action. Oh how we need to humble ourselves, to be broken to the point where we totally empty ourselves. Oh how I need to humble myself, to be broken, and to totally empty myself. I can do nothing of myself, Lord, only You can work through me to effect brokenness. Only You can show me where I have built walls and held on to areas of my life. Only You can break me. Break me, Lord. Make me transparent before you and transparent before men. Send a great revival, Lord, and let it begin in me.