When's the last time something you owned broke down? Maybe your furnace or car quit working, or your toaster suddenly went on the fritz.

When that happens, you've only got a few options. Call a repairman or mechanic, try to fix the problem yourself—or if all else fails, buy something new. Pretty straightforward, right?

But... what about when your heart breaks down? That's not so easy.

If you think of heartbreak, maybe the first thing you picture is tears and a pile of tissues. And while that is one kind of heartbreak, the truth is, a broken heart can also be one that isn't functioning the way it's designed to.

Sometimes life deals us some hard knocks, leaving our hearts battered and bruised... disappointed... maybe even bitter. Doubts crowd in, and it becomes hard to hang onto hope.

So what do you do with these breakdowns and letdowns? How do you fix a broken heart? It sure would be nice if you could trade your heart in for a new model as easily as people upgrade their cars.

But there's an even better option. God has the ability to heal broken hearts and make them new. The key is to get God's Word into your heart, where it can start the process. One of the best ways to do that is to declare the Word out loud. There's something powerful about hearing yourself speak words of life and hope!

Reading Psalm 30:11, you can declare, "God has turned my mourning into dancing. He covers me with His joy and strength."

Or take a look at Romans 12:2. Based on this verse, you can say, "I'm transformed from the inside out as Holy Spirit changes how I think and believe. God has a beautiful and satisfying life for me, and He has given me the power to walk it out."

There's no heart too broken for God to mend. He can turn your grief into joy. He transforms anxiety into peace. He takes your loneliness and brings fulfillment. The future He has for you is so good, and He wants to help you rise up and believe it's yours.

To give you a starting point, we've put together eight declarations based on Scripture. Click here to download this month's Walk in the Word collection. Then use these verses to start speaking God's promises over your life.

As you do, hope will awaken in you. Peace will come in. And your heart will be made whole by the God who loves you and wants the very best for you!

P.S. If you'd like to get one of these collections every month, you can sign up for our emails. At the beginning of each month, we'll send you great resources to build your faith, including Walk in the Word.