Seven-Day Practical Faith Blog: Unbroken vs. Broken

Before a horse is useful as a partner, it must be broken. An unbroken horse does not know how to carry a rider or weight on its back and does not know how to pull a load. Thus, it's not useful until it is broken.

C.H. Mackintosh used this analogy when writing the following in 1869:

"Nothing is more sad than to witness a pushing, bustling, forward, self-confident spirit and style in those who profess to be followers of him who was meek and lowly in heart. It is such a flagrant contradiction of the spirit and precepts of Christianity, and is a sure accompaniment of an unbroken condition of the soul. It is utterly impossible for anyone to indulge in a boastful, pretentious, self-confident spirit, if ever he has really measured himself in the presence of God. To be much alone with God is the sovereign remedy for pride and self-complacency."

These words from two centuries ago are still true today. Mackintosh points out how we can be "unbroken," in other words, unaware of our soul's sad condition and unwilling to admit wrong.

"Broken," in Christian terms, comes from David's repentance in Psalm 51. A broken spirit means to be overwhelmed with sorrow and to be completely penitent, feeling remorse and affected by guilt, deeply regretful and wishing to atone for sin.

Once we are broken, we can be more useful to God. We can carry our share of the load. We know our master, and we obey our master.

Please check out the new CecilTaylorMinistries.com! More changes are on the way, but I hope now you can more easily find the ministry's wealth of useful information and tools that aid your practical faith journey.