Being broken enlarges your capacity for life. Being unbroken dwarfs your capacity to love and for God. The pruning process appears to make us smaller, but the result is that we become much more productive. The difficult part is realizing that truth and trusting God. Breaking provides some of the pain and motivation necessary to trust Him. Barren parts of your life are draining, burdensome. When you are tired of carrying the load, unload. Christ gave up his rights from the beginning. Most of us work in stages. Following is a daily checklist for the attitude of brokenness.
Attitude checks for brokenness
1. Am I willing to let go of my dreams and ambitions if such is God's will?
2. Am I defensive when accused, criticized, or misunderstood?
3. Am I coveting what others have instead of waiting for heaven's rewards?
4. Am I forgiving when offended, with or without an apology?
5. Am I thinking of others first out of love?
6. Am I proudly appearing as though I am always right or know all the answers?
7. Am I being silent regarding self-promotion and letting God do my public relations?
8. Am I daily saying, "God, whatever it takes, I'm willing to submit to your leadership?"
9. Am I expressing joy in the difficulties that serve to refine me?
10. Am I taking risks out of obedience to Christ instead of giving in to fear, pride, or denial?
Excerpted from Embracing Brokenness: How God Refines Us Through Life's Disappointments, copyright 2002 by Alan E. Nelson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, Co., www.navpress.com. All rights reserved. For copies of the book, call 1-800-366-7788.
Alan E. Nelson, founder and senior pastor of Scottsdale Family Church in Arizona, has a doctorate in leadership from the University of San Diego. He is a columnist for Rev. magazine, and the author of My Own Worst Enemy and Leading Your Ministry. Alan and his wife, Nancy, have three sons.
What challenges do you face when trying to trust God rather than yourself? How has adopting a humble attitude helped you trust God more? In what ways has God been "breaking" you lately, and how do you see that the experience is reshaping who you are? Visit Crosswalk's forums to discuss this topic by clicking on the link below.