"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3).

Many local businesses in our area are owned by Christians and we are accustomed to seeing signs and Scripture verses on businesses proclaiming an aspect of faith. Each Christmas and Easter our local community Merchandiser papers often have the entire front pages devoted to the seasonal spiritually related theme.

I enjoy reading ad fliers from hardware stores and earlier this month I received a sales flyer from the Paul B. Zimmerman Hardware store near Ephrata Pennsylvania. Among the ads displaying drain cleaner, hinges, cable ties and other items for sale is a display box that includes a Scripture verse under the heading "Duct Tape For The Soul."

As a home workshop enthusiast I find two items indispensable to a complete workshop:  Duct tape and WD-40.  (I suppose I should add bungee cords, as well.)  Many years ago we were eating in a diner near Sand Springs, Oklahoma and I saw a big burly construction worker type man with this slogan emblazoned on his sweatshirt, "WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH THE TOUGH USE DUCT TAPE."

I learned early on in life the many virtues of duct tape from my dad.  It's amazing how much can be fixed with it. I've even seen well-worn Bibles covers that Christians refuse to part with bound together with duct tape!

I think of duct tape when I consider our daily verse.  The Hebrew word for "bind" (chabash) has the sense "to bind firmly."  I'm glad God's binding is not a flimsy variety.  This same word is used by Isaiah in describing the mission of the coming Messiah when he states, "He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted" (Isaiah 61:1). 

What a joy to personally experience this healthful binding in my own life and as a minister of the Gospel to help others experience it as well. Yesterday I spoke to a group at a nursing home service and used this verse as my main text. I consider the accumulative aspect of brokenheartedness experienced in that senior group throughout their lifetime. Of course many had lost a spouse in addition to their parents, siblings, and in some cases their own children.  There are inevitable times of brokenheartedness experienced through life, and more so as the aging progresses.

Today are you brokenhearted?  Do you have some spiritual wounds?  I've got good news for you!  God has not changed.  He still cares.  And He still acts. "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18).


Be encouraged today,


Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer:  Father, we're so thankful that when we mess things up You don't throw up Your arms, shake Your finger at us and say, "You made the mess. Now you fix it."  Plenty of others might do so, but Your compassion far exceeds Your judgment, for You did send Jesus to condemn, but rather to save us from our own sin and folly.  We do lots of temporary "fixing up" in our lives that comes unraveled again or needs ongoing repair.  But when we lay our broken hearts before You, You pick up the fragile pieces and restore us spiritually and emotionally.  Thank You for binding up our wounds and pouring in Your ointment of healing for our sin sick soul.  Only You, Father, can heal the body and spirit.  Once we are touched by Your healing hand, we can't help but reach out to others who need that touch as well.  You call us to funnel Your love and comfort to others in pain with the same comfort we ourselves receive from You when we are undergoing pain, suffering, or loss. May we faithful in doing so.  Amen.

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