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Q4. A Broken and Contrite Spirit


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Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

To be so burdened with the sin committed that it's almost crushing and like a heavy weight so we need to come in humility before God. Be truly sorry for sin.

The heart needs to be offered up to God as a sacrifice, repentant and in faith. Then God will not overlook it. Isaiah 66:2 says "but to this man I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite heart and tembles at my word." Also Isaiah 57:15 states that God is there to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Why do we resist? We do not like to admit we are wrong. It takes a humble heart to do this.

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Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

To have a broken heart and spirit is to be absent from the Lord. I imagine it would be like living in a dark hole with no way out.

A prayer of pardon is essential to a broken heart and spirit because it allowed David to ask God forgiviness in his transgressions thus reactivating the Holy Spirit within him. Now David sees himself serving God again.

A prayer of pardon is a sacrifice because you must come to God repenting not only with your month but from your heart.

We tend to resist a broken and contrite spirit because we have become slaves to a set prayer of confession or we feel if we give to the poor all its well with God. We continue to do things that we know is sinful and say all I have to do is repent.

Patricia

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Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

11-17 David is really sorry.

18 God doesn't want sacrifices or other VISUAL signs of sorry.

19 He wants a broken heart as an EMOTIONAL sign of sorry.

We don't want to feel sorry, we just want to be happy.

We often say 'sorry' without really meaning it.

For God, this has no value.

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To have a broken heart is in a sense a breaking down of all our false pride, our selfishness and arrogance so that uor hearts become open, cleared out to receive God's grace. All these things need to be swept away so that God's light can illuminate all those dark corners.

We resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves because it is painful to confront our faults and failings. In having a broken heart--we are sacrificing our inner being, our very selves to become open to His mercy,blessings and unfailing love.

What joy, thankyou Lord.

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Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

I think it means when we have sinned so greatly, or we continuously sin. We become emotionally defeated. Especially if we are trying to change our hearts and nothing is coming from it except more sin. When we have reached this position we are humbled before God. We have to acknowledge who we are in Christ. If this can happen, then it is a essential step in asking for forgiveness and repenting. As we repent we must refrain from doing what we did to get into that situation in the first place. When we sin, God is not near us at that moment. The more we sin, the further away He will be. Our strength is weakened. Our happiness is scattered, broken. We need this closeness so our spirits will be enlightened and restored.

This act of humble repentance is the ultimate sacrifice. We come before the Almighty and confess we are weak, guilty, even unworthy sinners, etc... We put it all on the line for His to judge us and for His forgiveness. We take the punishment for our choices, and our consequences.

I think that we try to resist this because it is so revealing. It pulls our hearts out of our chests and labels us as we are. How we truly see ourselves. Depending on the severity of our sins, it may be to painful to endure, or life-altering. However, if we can do this, our relationship with Jesus can reach unthinkable levels. If we can get past the awkward feelings or feelings of being in adequate, we could feel the love of Jesus, washing away all those transgressions, really letting go of all the hurt and wrong doings we have done or have been done to us. It is restoring and renewing of our hearts, spirits, and minds.

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  • 5 months later...

Q4.

What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit?

Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon?

In what sense is this a "sacrifice"?

Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

It means a sad, and broken heart, as well as a truly humbled spirit fully ashamed of the sin committed. We must acknowledge the need before God to find spiritual renewal and cleansing.

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Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

To have a broken heart and spirit means we have come to a realisation of our own wickedness. We are deeply saddened and regret our actions.

Guilt surrounds us all day.

A broken heart and spirit is essential in the prayer for pardon - its as though we have to the end of the road - we dont where to go and what else to do to make things right. We can only go to God to be forgiven.

If we offer other forms of offerings, its like a cop-out. It is a very easy and convenient way to pay for our sins. A broken and contrite heart will make us choose to walk away from the sin/sinful way of life that binds us. It is a sacrifice because we may have to give up something.

We tend to resist a broken and contrite spirit because of our pride and sinful nature. We do not enjoy acknowledging that we are in the wrong. Instead we justify our sins. Some of us would even like to continue in the same sin again once we have got over the initial sadness and guilt.

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Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit?

When horses are broken in spirit they become useful to their master. Our spirit must be broken down till there is nothing life of the old man.

Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon?

Pardon is not just being freed from a debt but from the power of the debt. Brokenness is the process God uses to transform us from sinners to saint in Jesus. I find it interesting that when a dog is disciplined it learns many times very quickly what its Master likes and doesn

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Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

To have a broken heart means that we are fully aware of our wickedness and that we have sinned against God, that we have been hurting the God who loves us and injured His reputation. We are submerged by guilt and shame. It is essential in the prayer for pardon because to receive forgiveness we have to be honest and completely humble before God. It is the sacrifice of our pride and selfishness and the acknowledgment of our total dependence on God. We tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves because it hurts and because we are prideful and sinful by nature. We tend to rationalize, minimize, blame others when in fact we ought to take the full responsibility of our actions. It is the only way to receive forgiveness and to be restored in full fellowship with the Lord.

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Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

A broken and contrite heart of verse 17 describe the condition of profound contrition and awe experienced by a sinful person who becomes aware of the divine presence. It describes the situation where we have had a personal encounter with God and realise that only God can love us, forgive us and cleanse us. We have come to a place of total yielding to God. It is a sacrifice because we are not trusting in our flesh but in God. We tend to resist this state because we have been given free choice and society frowns us someone who is no independent. Man, in general, seeks to be independent and to rely on our own strength, both physical and mental. Totally yielding to God screams against everything that we have learnt and been taught. But that is exactly the place where God wants us to be. When we are weak, God is strong; where we cannot, He can.

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Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit?

When a person has a broken heart and spirit it means that they have become aware of a sin or transgression that they have committed. This awareness physically and emotionally crushes them, and breaks the relationship.

Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon?

This is essential in the prayer for pardon, because a relationship has been injured and must be restored.

In what sense is this a "sacrifice"?

This is a “sacrifice,” because a person is offering up themselves and surrendering their wrongful ways and desires to repair a broken fellowship and relationship.

Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

We tend to resist a “broken and contrite heart” in ourselves, because many times we refuse or do not see that what we are doing hinders God’s Word, or that it is affecting our relationship with God. We are lifted up in pride, and is blinded by the truth of God's Word when we are selfish and are focusing on our sinful actions.

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Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit?

When a person has a broken heart and spirit it means that they have become aware of a sin or transgression that they have committed. This awareness physically and emotionally crushes them, and breaks the relationship.

Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon?

This is essential in the prayer for pardon, because a relationship has been injured and must be restored.

In what sense is this a "sacrifice"?

This is a “sacrifice,” because a person is offering up themselves and surrendering their wrongful ways and desires to repair a broken fellowship and relationship.

Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

We tend to resist a “broken and contrite heart” in ourselves, because many times we refuse or do not see that what we are doing hinders God’s Word, or that it is affecting our relationship with God. We are lifted up in pride, and is blinded by the truth of God's Word when we are selfish and are focusing on our sinful actions.

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What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

To have a broken heart and spirit is to have had a real acknowlegement of sin in our lives and that we sinned against God. It is a conviction or crushing of ourselves of the state we are in. This is essential when praying the prayer for pardon because without it we don't have true confession from our hearts before God. We resist this state of heart for many reasons. We might be lifted up in pride or hiding from ourselves the true state we are in. We should pray as David did that our sins would break our hearts.

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What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit?

 

Until our hearts break with sorrow at our sin, we are not quite ready for forgiveness. Contrite is consistently used for one who is physically and emotionally crushed because of sin. It's a feeling or expression of remorse or penitence that is affected by guilt because of sin. Many conversions these days seem to lack the deep repentance that rends the heart  

 

Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon?

 

Too often people just go through the motions of religion without real repentance, without a genuine desire for change, without a real love for God. Confession is important in this process, but whatever shape it takes, God is not looking for outward religious action but for heart repentance and change.

 

In what sense is this a "sacrifice"?

 

The sacrifices of such a broken heart and contrite spirit are the sacrifices God desires, approves, accepts of, and delights in. The good work wrought in every true penitent, is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, and sorrow for sin. It is a heart that is tender, and pliable to God's word.

 

Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

 

It is this inner person who must be converted and cleansed and discipled. Our actions (when we are not putting on an act for others) flow from this inner person, from our heart of hearts. So often we are sad at being caught or exposed, but not sad at hurting the God who loves us or injuring his reputation by our sins. Man is not willing to expose the inner man, so he  carries the idea of the inner being as a person covered up by the body.

 

 

          

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A broken heart and spirit happens when a person has hit rock bottom. The person has nothing left inside of them. They are completely empty. The person has basically sacrificed who they are and possibly what they believe. A person in this condition is unable to count on themselves anymore. They need a much higher power to get over this. They need help from God and the Holy Spirit. Nobody wants to be that broken. So many people will have inner blockages in their character that will stop them from going down further. However, there are those people that really need more help.

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The meaning of a broken heart and spirit is that we truly do repent of our sins. It is always on our minds and we want to get rid of it. This kind of attitude is essential for our prayer of pardon. The reason that we resist a “broken and contrite heart” is sometimes we really do enjoy our sin and it is hard to give up.

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  • 4 months later...

The relationship/fellowship we had with God is broken due to our sinful nature and needs to be restored. It also shows that repentance and confession is genuine and truthful.

It is a sacrifice because we commit our entire being at God's altar with all humility as Christ offered himself as a sacrifice on the cross for our sins.

It is human nature not to admit wrongs/sins. We try to put blame on others (remember Adam) it is the ego,

Pride and rebellion that prevents one to admit sins.

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When we make acceptable sacrifices to God as signs a broken spirit, and a broken heart means only Gods word revives us the broken heart. 

 It is essential in the prayer for pardon because God hears our prayer if we go before Him in earnest.

Having lack of deep repentance renders the broken heart. Sometimes we think God will despise in lack of deep repentance that's contrite heart. 

Edited by Stanley Tavaziva
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What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit?
It means that we are in such deep sorrow for our sins, such that we feel unclean. We feel separated from God. 

Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon?
It is essential because it means we have stopped rationalizing our sins, making excuses for them. Instead we are fully acknowledging our sins before the Lord.

In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? 
The Father wants obedience, not sacrifice, so when we come to Him with a broken heart and spirit, we are sacrificing our hearts and souls to Him.

Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

Our free will gets in the way sometimes, so we make excuses for our sins. If we acknowledge them fully, that means we must repent as well. We don’t always like change. But, repentance of sin is crucial to our relationship with God.


 


 

 

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  • 5 months later...

Q4a.  To have a broken heart and a contrite spirit is being sorrowful for having done something that is wrong and knowing that that wrong act is also a violation against someone held is high reverence. It is a feeling of disconnect and dislocation and lost of what was once close a comforting presence no longer felt.

Q4b.  This is essential in a Prayer of Pardon for if there is nothing of value lost or broken then the significant of the Pardon would not be worthwhile. The relationship is damaged the heart is in torment the spirit is a mourning..the soul is bereft with grief. In this environment the sinner is more sincere in seeking forgiveness and when mercy is given it is received with such gratitude as givin water and food to a man in a desert dying from thirst and hunger.

Q4c.  A broken heart and a contrite spirit is a sacrifice as the sinner has nothing else to offer.This is an offering presented in truth and in spirit. It is also an act of true worship in faith as it is putting all trust and confidence in God knowing that only Him can bring restoration of the brokenness.

 

Q4d. We tend to resist a broken heart and a contrite spirit in ourselves when we wrap self righteousness around us.We don't take total responsibility for our sin as there is an attitude of self justification and rationalization around it.There is not that deep sense of loss felt of having done something that is injurious to God nor that of a troubled conscience we should have for violation of a spiritual principles .

 

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  • 1 year later...
On 9/26/2005 at 9:32 AM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

When you have a broken heart and spirit, you are physically and emotionally crushed by your sin against the Father.

It's essential because until we are truly sorry and sincere in our repentance we won't know forgiveness. 

It is a sacrifice because we are denying ourselves and our emotions and our justifications and offering God a sacrifice of ourselves in our change. 

We tend to resist because in my opinion we take God's grace, mercy, and forgiveness for granted.  

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  • 1 year later...
On 9/26/2005 at 11:32 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves?

1. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? It’s allowing the Holy Spirit to expose my old nature that’s manifesting, that inmost being of mine that’s hiding secret sins, false images, idolatry etc and co-operating with Him, my Spirit of Grace who helps me to truely repent with Godly sorrow.

2. Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? Without the Holy One, my helper I could be walking in deception, lies and thus grieving Abba dearest. His heart is for me to walk uprightly with Him.

3. In what sense is this a "sacrifice"?  For me it’s coming to a realisation that in and of myself I can’t change or fix myself and need to humbly, yet boldly come to God’s throne of mercy and receive His grace to help me move forward in His Lovely gift of Righteousness.

4. Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves? Fear of being exposed and vulnerable or seen as a sinner. Yet deep down desperately wanting to be righteous and able to have an intimate relationship with Abba dearest and others.

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Q4. What does it mean to have a broken heart and spirit? Why is this essential in the prayer for pardon? In what sense is this a "sacrifice"? Why do we tend to resist a "broken and contrite heart" in ourselves? 

A broken heart and spirit is crushed. To know we moved away from God in our disobedience breaks our hearts when we realize that we have chosen our own darkness. It's essential that we realize this brokenness to pray for pardon because it shows we need a savior--we cannot be holy on our own. A broken spirit is a sacrifice because we feel shame, inadequate, failure  and these emotions are not comfortable so we resist feeling this way on purpose.

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