And I will give you a heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 ESV

     So many times in this world our hearts are divided into many interest, and it becomes difficult to focus on what is important. As Christians we need to have a single focus in life…. Jesus. In him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28 ESV We are to have no other gods, which occupy our life, our thoughts, or our actions. It is what we need to pray for, ask, seek, and desire God to do in us- to create a clean heart with undivided attention. Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit with in me. Psalms 51:10 ESV Every thing in life is a heart issue, for this affects how our relationship with God will grow or diminish in daily living. In order for us to live our lives for God, two things must take place: the removal of the old and the gift of the new.

The removal of of the stone heart:
     Nothing grows in a pile of rocks. Rocks only reflect the external temperatures. If the sun is shinning and beating down upon them, the rock radiates heat. If the opposite is true- freezing temperatures- the rocks will be cold and undesirable to be close to. In fact the “cold to the bone” feeling only brings pain. So rocks are controlled by whatever the circumstances are around them and so is a heart of stone. Stone hearts have only concern for themselves and have no interest in the things of God nor concern for others. Stone hearts are the result of sin and without the intervention of God will never be anything different. The removal of the stone heart is an action only accomplished by God, for God knows nothing grows in stone. So how exactly does God remove a heart of Stone? He forgives, and makes it possible for us to feel and understand that forgiveness. Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Psalms 32:1 ESV When a person’s sins are forgiven, that person will begin to feel things as the result of the presence of God which pulverizes the heart of Stone.

The gift of a heart of flesh:
     A heart of flesh acknowledges the presence of God. This is the result of the Holy Spirit that lives not in the stones of the temple that you can see with your eyes, but the temple of our souls- that is our hearts. Do you not know that your body is temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV As temples of the Holy Spirit, we can speak into the lives of others concerning the good new of Jesus Christ. Stones could never do this, so this is a precious gift and blessing we have from God. We do not need to be controlled by our circumstances, “For he who is in you is greater than he who in the world.” 1 John 4:4 ESV The heart of flesh makes it possible to walk in relationship with God. We were made for fellowship with God, and may this be a reality in your life. If it is, give God much Glory for the great things he has done in your life.

 
Because of his Grace ~ Pastor David