I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36:25-27
Gracious heavenly Father, your promise of a new heart beating within my breast shouts of your mercy and might. There are few things I need or want more, and I praise you for how much of this great New Covenant promise you’ve already fulfilled in your children.
Already I’ve experienced the greatest of all sprinklings—the once and for all cleansing by the blood of Jesus. Though still sucker-punched by the accusing and condemning work of Satan, you’ve forgiven me of all of my sins… past, present and future… sins of word, thought and deed. May this grand affirmation never fall glibly from my lips. May this good news never be blasé or cliché to me.
Father, you’ve already declared your children to be perfectly righteous in your sight forever—a status that makes me yearn for the complete healing of my yet-to-be perfected heart. How I long for the Day when my heart will only beat for Jesus’ glory… be enamored with his beauty… feel with his passion… think with his wisdom… and love with his affection.
Indeed, that’s I’m most earnestly desiring today. By the work of your indwelling Spirit, change my heart, Father. The image of a heart of stone being replaced with a heart of flesh is no mere metaphor to me, it’s a gospel-miracle. I want a kind heart… a tender heart, a “sweet” heart… a compassionate heart… a caring heart… a servant’s heart… a soft heart… the heart of Jesus.
I long to be more restful and less resentful…. more merciful and less mercenary… quicker to listen than to speak… quicker to be flexible than rigid… more likely to be consoling than controlling… more often saying “Yes!” than “No!”
I want to forgive from my heart and not just avoid the pain of conflict. I want to encourage people for their good, not flatter them for my benefit. I want to see what you see in others, and not obsess over what I want for others. I want to feel joy and hope every time I hear your name, and not feel rejection and self-pity when I don’t hear my name. Like John the Baptist, I want Jesus to increase and me to decrease…
I praise you Father for promising just such a heart through the resources of the gospel. My longings, hopes and prayers are not in vain. So very Amen, I pray, with fresh gratitude, in Jesus matchless name.
