Shirley's Corner - Change My Heart

 

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"Change my heart, O God
Make it ever true...
Change my heart, O God
May I be like You...

You are the Potter,
I am the clay....
Mold me and make me,
This is what I pray....

This little chorus has been going around in my head now for several days as I have pondered my attitude about some things in my life. It has been brought to my attention that some changes need to be made and quite frankly, I would prefer to ignore these changes and just settle for the "status quo".

Change seems to get harder and harder as I grow older, but, since I have not yet achieved perfection, it is a definite necessity.

Recently, my daughter, Suzie, and I had a conversation regarding some victories she has experienced in her life. She said it all began to turn around as she asked the Lord to change her heart regarding some issues.

Isn't it strange that we can change our minds, change our direction, yet if our hearts are not fully engaged, our efforts are in vain. In Jeremiah, the Lord made this observation,

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it (perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind)? I the Lord search the mind, I try the heart, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.". Jeremiah 17:9-10 (Amplified Bible)

As a new creation, I have the mind of Christ and it causes me to desire righteousness in all areas of my life, even as He is righteous. Still, in certain areas I find myself crying Paul's lament in Romans 7:18,

"For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot perform it. (I have the intention and urge to do what is right, but no power to carry it out.)"

I thank God that Paul went on to complete this discourse with Romans 8 where we find comfort for this heart dilemma.

Our Lord, in His great love, does not condemn us but offers us a remedy for " heart sickness". He examines our hearts on a continual basis and knows what is hidden there at all times. There are two things that cannot be known apart from revelation...His heart and your heart.

At the right time, the Holy Spirit will reveal to us the changes that need to be made in our hearts in order that His will for us be accomplished. This "heart surgery" is not a one time occurrence, but takes place as we are strong enough to endure it. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul assures us,

"And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ (right up to the time of His return), developing (that good work) and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you." (Philippians 1:6.)

He, the Holy Spirit, is both willing and able to present us to our Bridegroom without spot or blemish. Hallelujah!

I've begun to start my day with humility and the realization that on my own I am not even sure of all that needs to be changed. However,

He knows I am serious as I pray, "Change my heart, Lord...".

Is it time to acknowledge your inability to change your heart and to submit to some " heart surgery" by the One Who knows you inside and out? It all begins with this short prayer, "Change my heart, Lord, may I be like You..."

Recommended Reading
"A Heart For God"
Sinclair Ferguson

With love from my chair at the Harvest Table,

Shirley

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