I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezek. 36:2
Gracious Father, this promise of a new heart has never had more meaning to me. It’s not just the hard-hearted culture we’re presently immersed in. It’s my own reaction to that culture. It’s not just “them.” It’s me.
As your children, you’ve already declared us forgiven and righteous in Jesus. Hallelujah. And you’ve already given us the promised “new heart,” when you raised us from death to new life in Jesus. But it’s a yet-to-be-perfected heart. Until you glorify us, our hearts will need constant renewal and more grace.
The image of a heart of stone being replaced with a heart of flesh is no mere metaphor; it’s a Gospel miracle. Father, 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 for the Day when my heart will beat only for Jesus’ glory, burn with his passion, and love with his affection. Like John the Baptist, I want Jesus to increase, and me to decrease—at least most days I do.
I want to forgive from my heart, as you have forgiven me in Jesus. I want to see what you see in others—all others, not just those of different skin color, but those who will vote different from me in November.
I want to live as an encourager—a builder-upper, an edifier… until the day you take me Home. For the only thing that counts, is faith expressing itself in love (Gal. 5:6). So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ tender and triumphant name.
