Break it Open
Day 1:
Breaking Free from Routine
Devotional
We often find ourselves going through the motions in our spiritual walk. Like a well-rehearsed dance, we know the steps but have lost the passion. We come to church, sing the songs, and say the prayers, yet something feels missing. That 'something' is often the raw, genuine connection with God that comes from a truly broken and surrendered heart. When we become too comfortable, we risk treating our relationship with God like a transaction rather than a transformation. We need to examine our hearts and ask ourselves: Have we become so familiar with God's presence that we've lost our sense of awe?
Bible Verse
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." - Psalms 51:17
Reflection Question
When was the last time you felt genuinely moved in God's presence, and what has changed since then?
Quote When we have an unbroken spirit, we can come into a place of worship week after week after week and experience the presence of the Lord. We can come in here and his presence can fill this place where we are and we are completely unmoved by his presence.
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for falling into routine worship. Break through my comfortable patterns and help me experience Your presence with fresh eyes and an open heart. Amen.
Day 2:
The Cost of True Worship
Devotional
True worship often comes with a price tag - not in monetary terms, but in terms of what we're willing to surrender. Like the woman with the alabaster flask, genuine worship requires us to break open our pride, our reservations, and sometimes even our relationships. It's about being willing to look foolish in the eyes of others because we understand the value of being right in God's eyes. When we truly worship, we don't measure our expression based on what others might think. We simply pour out everything we have before Jesus, holding nothing back.
Bible Verse
"And she stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment." - Luke 7:38
Reflection Question
What is holding you back from expressing your worship more freely?
Quote Worship like this is going to cost you something. It's going to cost you your pride. It might cost you some friends, some old friends that don't understand what it means to come into worship and they try to make fun of you for the way you worship.
Prayer
Father, give me the courage to worship You without reservation. Help me care more about Your approval than the opinions of others. Amen.
Day 3:
Breaking the Flask of Control
Devotional
There's a profound difference between opening something and breaking it. When we merely open our hearts to God, we maintain control - we can close it whenever we want. But breaking requires complete surrender. It's irreversible. It's total. It's transformative. Just like the woman who broke her alabaster flask, we're called to break open our hearts before God in a way that can't be undone. This kind of surrender changes everything - our perspective, our priorities, and our purpose.
Bible Verse
"And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head." - Mark 14:3-5
Reflection Question
What areas of your life are you still trying to control rather than fully surrendering to God?
Quote When it's open, we control the contents. We measure out. If everything's going good, we might give a little bit more worship. If everything's not going good, we might just drip a little bit out on Sundays. But whenever it's broken, we don't have control of how it comes out.
Prayer
Dear God, help me to break open the areas of my life where I'm still maintaining control. I want to surrender everything to You. Amen.
Day 4:
Seeing Through God's Eyes
Devotional
How different would our world look if we saw people the way God sees them? Instead of seeing flaws and failures, we'd see potential and purpose. Instead of seeing where people have been, we'd see where God could take them. This shift in perspective changes everything about how we interact with others. When we allow God to break our hearts for what breaks His, we begin to see the world differently. Our compassion grows, our judgment diminishes, and our desire to reach others with God's love increases.
Bible Verse
"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." - Psalm 34:17-19
Reflection Question
How might your interactions with others change if you truly saw them through God's eyes?
Quote My prayer is, God, break my heart for what breaks your heart. God, let me see people like you see people and not like I see them, because I see their flaws. I see. I see their imperfections. But you see their heart. You see what they can be. You see their potential.
Prayer
Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours. Help me see others as You see them, with love, compassion, and hope. Amen.
Day 5:
Love's Response
Devotional
The depth of our worship often correlates with our understanding of how much we've been forgiven. When we truly grasp the magnitude of God's grace in our lives, our response can't help but be extravagant. Like the woman who poured out her expensive perfume, our gratitude overflows into worship. This isn't about guilt or shame - it's about recognition. Recognizing God's incredible love and mercy towards us naturally leads to a deeper, more passionate expression of love in return.
Bible Verse
"Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." - Luke 7:47
Reflection Question
How has your understanding of God's forgiveness influenced your expression of worship?
Quote Jesus said, to whom little is forgiven. The same loves little. That's in Luke 7:47. The same loves little. I want to ask you this morning, how much do you love Him?
Prayer
Jesus, help me never forget the depth of Your forgiveness. Let my worship flow from a heart of genuine gratitude for Your grace. Amen.
Breaking Free from Routine
Devotional
We often find ourselves going through the motions in our spiritual walk. Like a well-rehearsed dance, we know the steps but have lost the passion. We come to church, sing the songs, and say the prayers, yet something feels missing. That 'something' is often the raw, genuine connection with God that comes from a truly broken and surrendered heart. When we become too comfortable, we risk treating our relationship with God like a transaction rather than a transformation. We need to examine our hearts and ask ourselves: Have we become so familiar with God's presence that we've lost our sense of awe?
Bible Verse
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." - Psalms 51:17
Reflection Question
When was the last time you felt genuinely moved in God's presence, and what has changed since then?
Quote When we have an unbroken spirit, we can come into a place of worship week after week after week and experience the presence of the Lord. We can come in here and his presence can fill this place where we are and we are completely unmoved by his presence.
Prayer
Lord, forgive me for falling into routine worship. Break through my comfortable patterns and help me experience Your presence with fresh eyes and an open heart. Amen.
Day 2:
The Cost of True Worship
Devotional
True worship often comes with a price tag - not in monetary terms, but in terms of what we're willing to surrender. Like the woman with the alabaster flask, genuine worship requires us to break open our pride, our reservations, and sometimes even our relationships. It's about being willing to look foolish in the eyes of others because we understand the value of being right in God's eyes. When we truly worship, we don't measure our expression based on what others might think. We simply pour out everything we have before Jesus, holding nothing back.
Bible Verse
"And she stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment." - Luke 7:38
Reflection Question
What is holding you back from expressing your worship more freely?
Quote Worship like this is going to cost you something. It's going to cost you your pride. It might cost you some friends, some old friends that don't understand what it means to come into worship and they try to make fun of you for the way you worship.
Prayer
Father, give me the courage to worship You without reservation. Help me care more about Your approval than the opinions of others. Amen.
Day 3:
Breaking the Flask of Control
Devotional
There's a profound difference between opening something and breaking it. When we merely open our hearts to God, we maintain control - we can close it whenever we want. But breaking requires complete surrender. It's irreversible. It's total. It's transformative. Just like the woman who broke her alabaster flask, we're called to break open our hearts before God in a way that can't be undone. This kind of surrender changes everything - our perspective, our priorities, and our purpose.
Bible Verse
"And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head." - Mark 14:3-5
Reflection Question
What areas of your life are you still trying to control rather than fully surrendering to God?
Quote When it's open, we control the contents. We measure out. If everything's going good, we might give a little bit more worship. If everything's not going good, we might just drip a little bit out on Sundays. But whenever it's broken, we don't have control of how it comes out.
Prayer
Dear God, help me to break open the areas of my life where I'm still maintaining control. I want to surrender everything to You. Amen.
Day 4:
Seeing Through God's Eyes
Devotional
How different would our world look if we saw people the way God sees them? Instead of seeing flaws and failures, we'd see potential and purpose. Instead of seeing where people have been, we'd see where God could take them. This shift in perspective changes everything about how we interact with others. When we allow God to break our hearts for what breaks His, we begin to see the world differently. Our compassion grows, our judgment diminishes, and our desire to reach others with God's love increases.
Bible Verse
"The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." - Psalm 34:17-19
Reflection Question
How might your interactions with others change if you truly saw them through God's eyes?
Quote My prayer is, God, break my heart for what breaks your heart. God, let me see people like you see people and not like I see them, because I see their flaws. I see. I see their imperfections. But you see their heart. You see what they can be. You see their potential.
Prayer
Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours. Help me see others as You see them, with love, compassion, and hope. Amen.
Day 5:
Love's Response
Devotional
The depth of our worship often correlates with our understanding of how much we've been forgiven. When we truly grasp the magnitude of God's grace in our lives, our response can't help but be extravagant. Like the woman who poured out her expensive perfume, our gratitude overflows into worship. This isn't about guilt or shame - it's about recognition. Recognizing God's incredible love and mercy towards us naturally leads to a deeper, more passionate expression of love in return.
Bible Verse
"Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." - Luke 7:47
Reflection Question
How has your understanding of God's forgiveness influenced your expression of worship?
Quote Jesus said, to whom little is forgiven. The same loves little. That's in Luke 7:47. The same loves little. I want to ask you this morning, how much do you love Him?
Prayer
Jesus, help me never forget the depth of Your forgiveness. Let my worship flow from a heart of genuine gratitude for Your grace. Amen.
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