“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.” Ezekiel 36:26
Gracious Father, when you brought us from death to life in Jesus, you gave us the “new heart” you promised through your servant-son Ezekiel. You also gave us the permanent indwelling of your Spirit, the riches of grace, your unwavering favor, and the certainty that one Day we will be like Jesus.
One Day our new heart will only beat for Jesus’ glory. We will love with Jesus’ affection and overflow with his joy. Never again will we have to pray David’s prayer, “Lord, give me an undivided heart…” (Psalm 86:11). Never again will we sing, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” Hallelujah!
Everything deceitful in our hearts will be forever gone (Jer. 17:9). The thoughts of our hearts (Prov. 23:7) and words of our mouths (Luke 6:45) will only honor you and bless others. We’ll never have to guard our hearts again (Prov. 4:23) because it will be impossible for us to sin or even be tempted.
We will be completely healed, whole, and loving. Whew! Glory! Hasten that Day!
Until then, keep us wise Father, for our new heart is not a perfected heart. Vestiges of our “stony heartedness” remain and we’re still “infectible.” Indeed, we’re not condemnable; but we are “contaminable.” Abba, heal us, convict us, change us, and keep us healthy. Keep those daily mercies coming (Lam.3:22-23) your endless supply of grace upon grace (Jn.1:16), because …
- Envy is heart rabies
- Greed is idol rocket fuel
- Ingratitude is soul cancer
- Discontent is peace poison
- Harshness is relationship Eboli
- Resentment is spiritual Malaria
- Judgmentalism is grace-amnesia
We will not live afraid; but we will live close to Jesus. Thank you, Abba. So Very Amen.
