Pray for Brokenness

One of my young friends is going through a ‘fiery ordeal,” explained by Peter as necessary “for your testing.” Peter reminds us to “not be surprised … as though some strange thing were happening to you” (1Pe 4:12). But it seems we often are taken by surprise, aren’t we! After I had counseled my young friend how to pray during his test, I realized I had forgotten to tell him this important thing: to pray for brokenness!

The story of the Hebrews’ arrival in Canaan illustrates the principle of brokenness. Before taking possession of the Promised Land, God required every man to be circumcised. Canaan represents our victorious life in Christ. Circumcision represents dependence on God. The cutting of the flesh symbolizes their death to natural strength. Likewise, before you can enter your “Canaan,” you must be “broken” of your self-life, allowing God to expose and cut out everything that remains of your natural strength and self-determination. Afterward, you will be ‘enlarged’ by your trial.

King David knew brokenness was God’s way of enlarging his life (Ps. 18:36; 119:32). Whenever you are about to break through to your “larger place,” God will need to cut deeply into the bone, tissue, and muscle of your pride, false confidence, and self-reliance. He loves you too much to let you go into Canaan with your natural weapons, for they would surely sabotage you, and bring about your defeat. Let God break you. Let God’s knife do its work. “For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are” (Hebrews 4:12).