Healing For The Broken Hearted: Discover Lasting Freedom in Christ

By Shelley Hitz

It comforts me to know that Jesus promises us healing for the broken hearted. Even in the darkest of situations, there is hope.

I have walked through some dark days and difficult circumstances yet Christ has brought healing to my life. I have written this book to share with you the journey God has taken me on and some of the tools He used to bring healing and lasting freedom.

Isaiah 61:1 says, "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners."

And yet, your path to healing may not look exactly like mine. We are all uniquely created with different backgrounds and life circumstances. Therefore, I do not believe there is just one step-by-step system. However, in this book, I am going to share with you practical steps you can apply to your life to receive healing emotionally and spiritually. Please do not feel like you need to do every single step that I share with you. Instead, I encourage you to pray and ask God for wisdom. Ask Him to show you which specific steps you should take on your path to healing, and then, take that first step.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." ~Lao-tzu

==> Are you ready to take the steps necessary to receive healing from Christ?

If so, download this book to take the first step on your own journey to healing and freedom.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Body and Soul Publishing
• Release date: Dec 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301746279

Shelley Hitz

Shelley Hitz is an award-winning and international best-selling author. However, she gives all the glory to God for what He is doing through her life. As she likes to say, “God is the author, I am simply the pen.” Shelley has been ministering alongside her husband, CJ, since 1998 and her main passion is to share God’s truth and the freedom in Christ she has found with others. She does this through her books, websites and speaking engagements. She is also the co-owner of BodyandSoulPublishing.com where she shares free Christian books on her blog, owner of Self-Publishing-Coach.com where she helps authors get published and noticed and co-founder of CrossReads.com where Christian readers and authors meet. The main reason Shelley writes and publishes Christian books is to share her testimony, use the gift of teaching God has given her and bring glory to God. Ironically, she never dreamed of being a published author and English was one of her worst subjects in school growing up. However, God is now using her weaknesses for His strength to impact many for eternity (2 Corinthians 12:9). She is humbled and amazed that He chooses to use her and her life goal is to keep her eyes fixed on Christ, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). Shelley’s openness and vulnerability as she shares her own story of hope and healing through her books will inspire and encourage you.

Book preview

Healing For The Broken Hearted: Discover Lasting Freedom in Christ

© 2012 by Shelley Hitz

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means – electronic, mechanical, photographic (photocopying), recording, or otherwise – without prior permission in writing from the author.

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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from the Amplified® Bible, Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Get resources and connect with the author here:

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter One: Healing From The Inside Out

Chapter Two: The First Step Is Forgiveness

Chapter Three: The Key Is Surrender

Chapter Four: Has The Door Been Opened to the Enemy?

Chapter Five: When You Feel Broken Hearted

Chapter Six: Christian Counseling

Chapter Seven: Journaling

Chapter Eight: The Importance of a Father's Love

Chapter Nine: Renewing Your Mind

Chapter Ten: Accountability & Prayer

Chapter Eleven: Identify the Triggers

Chapter Twelve: Connecting with God

Appendix

Excerpt From Forgiveness Formula: Finding Lasting Freedom In Christ

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INTRODUCTION

He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.

- Psalm 147:3

He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted.

- Isaiah 61:1

It comforts me to know that Jesus promises us healing for the broken hearted. Even in the darkest of situations, there is hope.

Did you know that the words bind up in both verses come from the same Hebrew word, chabash? This word means to tie, bind, bind on, bind about (like a head band, turban, tiara), to restrain, to bandage. 1

Did you notice the word bandage? When I think of God bandaging up my wounds, it is a comforting thought. God often speaks to me in illustrations and after studying this word deeper I see this scenario: Jesus taking time to personally come and bind up or bandage my emotional wounds.

However, that is not all I found.

Stitch by Stitch

The word, heal, in Psalms 147:3 is the Hebrew word rapha which means, to heal, to sew together or mend.2 It is as if God is healing our hurts from the past stitch by stitch.

Have you ever had stitches? What is their main purpose? To hold our wound together so it has time to heal, right? That is the picture this word, rapha, to heal, gives us. Unfortunately, we cannot see emotional healing like we can see a gaping wound on our arm, but nevertheless, God is able to heal us stitch by stitch.

A Broken Heart Can Cripple Us Emotionally

Now, let us look at the Hebrew word for broken hearted, shabar, that we find in both of these verses.

Here are a few of the definitions: to break in pieces, rend violently, crush, rupture, to be broken, be maimed, be crippled, be wrecked, be shattered. 3

The same word is used in these ways:

Break the door Gen 19:9

Break a bone Exodus 12:46

Be hurt Exodus 22:10,14

Torn I King 13:26

Are you getting the picture?

To be broken hearted is to be broken into pieces, crushed, crippled, shattered, torn. It hurts. Some of you know exactly what I mean.

I see a picture of someone who was in a serious car accident and had their leg