This blog post will explore the meaning of “break my heart for what breaks yours.”
When I think of what it means to walk with the Lord, one phrase comes to mind: “Break my heart for what breaks yours.” It’s a simple yet profound invitation to align our hearts and desires with God.
As we give ourselves over to Him, He begins to reveal Himself in ways that can often be unexpected and life-changing.
We start walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), no longer giving into the desires of the flesh but yielding instead to His will and direction in our lives.
Little by little, we start seeing things differently; we begin experiencing God’s love for us, making us want to draw closer, seeking Him more intently.
Our hearts become broken for the things that break His, and we feel compelled to take action, doing what He leads us to do out of love and not fear.
I hope this raw post encourages you!
Ready? Let’s go…
Lord, why me…again!!! Like, for real?
Have you ever felt like God is ‘picking’ on you? No matter what you do, you feel like the Lord continuously asks more of you than everyone else. It can leave us feeling angry and confused.
Yesss! When your heart breaks for God, you can feel like you’re constantly being picked on.
You listen and are obedient to what He says in His Word – but it can feel like everyone else gets away with things while all eyes are on you.
It can sometimes be frustrating, and you may even ask God, “Why me? Again? Why aren’t You telling these other people?”
The truth is, He probably is – BUT your calling and purpose could just be different from theirs. Sometimes the Lord calls us to more sensitive positions or tasks that require more discipline.
Luke 12:48, “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.”
The truth is, if we are obedient to the Lord, then it may appear as though we are being ‘picked on.’
But really, if we look at it closely, it may be:
- God is equipping us with the tools to prepare us for a greater purpose and calling that He has put upon us.
- It could also be that He is working on your character by refining you like gold in the furnace!
- Another idea is that God is probably also speaking to them, and they aren’t listening.
A heart of flesh
In Ezekiel 36, the Lord reveals His plans to restore Israel from her sin and rebellion. The Lord promises that He will remove their stony, disobedient hearts of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.”
This means they will be spiritually restored to Him through repentance and faith. This is also a beautiful picture of transformation where the Lord gives His people something they could not provide for themselves; a restored heart fitted to receive Him fully.
Here are 5 differences between the two hearts:
- The heart of stone is cold, callous, and unresponsive to the Lord’s voice, while the heart of flesh is warm, sensitive, and responsive to His presence.
- The heart of stone is resistant to change, whereas the heart of flesh will be willing to change as it desires God’s will for its life.
- The heart of stone is prideful and focused on self, while the heart of flesh seeks after God first and shows humility before Him.
- The heart of stone is full of darkness and despair, while the heart of flesh finds life in Jesus Christ and experiences joy from His presence.
- The heart of stone resists God’s truth, while the heart of flesh is eager to receive and be shaped by it.
After God’s own heart…
If you’ve spent any length of time in a relationship with Jesus, chances are that you’re familiar with the beautiful words of Galatians 5:16 – “But I say walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh.” (I mentioned this verse earlier in the post).
As believers, we understand this to mean that when we walk close to God, the Spirit will convict us when we stray from Him.
I know that this has certainly been true in my own life recently. God has been asking me to overhaul certain areas of my life. Through the Lord’s loving conviction, I am constantly being reminded to obey NOT out of fear but out of love for Him.
David, a man after God’s own heart
One of the greatest examples of a heart for God is found in the story of David. When Nathan confronts him about his sin with Bathsheba, we see just how much David truly loves and honors God – he weeps and repents deeply for his wrongdoing out of pure love for the Lord.
This is a beautiful example of what our hearts should be like when we encounter conviction from God- we’re broken, humble, and willing to make changes out of love for Him.
As believers, we, too, should have a heart for the Lord that is willing to be broken for what breaks His heart.
Let us strive to be humble when He convicts us of sin, ready to repent and make changes out of love instead of fear.
May our hearts be like that of David – broken for what breaks God’s heart.
1 Samuel 13:14, “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.?
Acts 13:22, “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave their testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.”
It’s not easy to have a heart that breaks for God!
When your heart breaks for God, it’s painful and hard. Why? Your spirit and flesh want entirely different things!
In addition, you are constantly renewing your mind (see Romans 12:2) and, at times, going against the grain. Others are trekking the broad road, and you are on the narrow road! (see Matthew 7:14)
Yes, it can be hard to let go of things that seem so good and desirable! However, it’s important to remember that God knows best. He sees the big picture and has a plan for our lives – even if we can’t always understand it in the present moment.
As I learn to trust Him more deeply, I’m learning that sometimes what He asks us to do isn’t easy or pleasant but comes from love and is ultimately meant for our best interest.
John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Matthew 7:14, “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Romans 12:2, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
And that’s it, folks, break my heart for what breaks yours!
I know I’ve harped a lot of things in this post; honestly, I really want this to sink in! ❤️
I truly pray that our hearts will be sensitive to the Lord. I pray that we would be careful in what and to who we listen so that our minds can remain pure and focused on Him.🙏🏾
Let’s love God more than anything else in this world because He alone is worthy of our wholehearted devotion.
It is because of His great love that He’s ever-faithful in guiding us back on track into the place where He can bless us abundantly.
As we surrender ourselves more and more to Jesus, allowing Him to break our hearts for what breaks His, we start living life according to His will and purpose – rejoicing in all the good things it brings!
P.S. In Hillsong’s “Hosanna” song, I used to skip the line that says, “Break my heart for what breaks yours.” I honestly didn’t want my heart to break 😂.Now I realize the depth of that line.
Although I’m not on my knees praying with that exact phrase, I concur that when you love God you will keep His commandments. You will also obey Him because your heart breaks for the things of God.
Other related posts:
Standing Still and Listening in the Silence (Raw)
Lamentations: The Urgency of the Gospel (Raw & Emotional)
31 Biblical Truths About Suffering and Why God Allows Suffering
Hugs,
