Ms Moriah Henderson
Church Pianist / High School Senior
Harvest Baptist Church
Manhattan, KS
Is Your Vessel Broken?
Is your vessel broken? To most people this would seem like an odd question. Even to me, when I first considered it, it made no sense. Awhile back I read a book called The Calvary Road. It approaches the topic of personal revival and how that through brokenness, repentance, and confession, one may obtain it. Recently, I decided to read it again. The chapter on brokenness stuck out to me, and I began to study it out. So often, we get so concerned with our own personal needs and desires, that the Lord’s will and personal revival cannot be made manifest in and through our lives. As it is often said, the Lord cannot use us, until He properly breaks us. Although it sounds painful, (and sometimes may be), if we truly want God to be fully revealed to us and lifted high in our lives, then being broken is the only way that we may obtain it. The beginning of brokenness is personal. I have found that as long as I am in control, God cannot and will not use me. No matter how much I may desire to be used of God, if I am not willing to give everything I have and am over to Him, I simply cannot be used. Brokenness is a two-way street. God applies the pressure, and we must humble ourselves and yield to His molding. Psalm 51:16-17 says, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, though wilt not despise.” Daily humbling ourselves, allowing the Lord to fill us with His Holy Spirit, and heeding to His voice is paramount to being broken. Not too long ago, I was at a revival meeting that lasted several days. Sitting next to me was a girl I did not know too well. For the duration of the meeting she cried through the entirety of each service. I sat quietly beside her, begging God to lead and guide me as to what I could do to help her and point her to Him. A few times I prayed with her, but felt a spiritual battle going on that I could not fully grasp. After the last meeting, I talked to my dad and told him the Lord put this person on my heart, and I didn’t know why. His words were, “Moriah, all I can tell you is to stay tender to the Holy Spirit’s leading and guiding.”
So, I continued to pray earnestly for her. The very next Sunday an intense message was preached on hell, and she raised her hand for salvation. Although she has not gotten saved yet, had I not been tender to the Lord’s leading and direction, I would have missed an opportunity to come before our Heavenly Father’s throne on behalf of someone whose life truly depends on it.
I heard a preacher recently say, “The Christian who neglects the Holy Spirit is like a lamp that is not plugged in.” How sad that would be! To be a child of the King, yet not show the truths and blessings that God has given to us to point others to Christ. In Exodus 2:11-25, God could have used Moses when he was young, confident, and had power and authority in the land, but He chose not to use him until he was an old, humble shepherd who was scared to even speak before the king (Ex. 4:1-17). Throughout the Bible, we see time and again how God could not truly use people until their vessels were emptied of themselves and they were willing to let God fill them with Him. Is your vessel broken, ready for His use? Let’s listen to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to work and move through us so that we may be a blessing to others!
Psalms 143:10
Teach me to do thy will; for thou are my God: thy spirit is good: lead me into the land of the uprightness.
Galatians 5:25
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
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