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| Photo by: Teerapun |
A new year always makes me want to take some time to think. I don’t usually exactly make resolutions, but I have goals. I try to make them realistic and not resolutions that will bog me down before I start.
This year, I want a new heart.
Read these verses
from Ezekiel. God is speaking:
- And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh (11:19)
- Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (18:31)
- A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. (36:26)
Notice these
details from the above verses:
- New: heart and spirit
- Substitution: a heart of flesh instead of a heart of stone
- Prerequisite: getting rid of sin (18:31)
I want the kind of
spirit that responds to God. I want a heart of flesh that is soft and
teachable. I want to yield to biblical teaching. I want to be soft and take it.
I want to be receptive and not rebellious. I want a sweet, willing attitude.
I don’t want a
hardened heart—not any time. I want to have a soft heart even under stress,
when grieving, and when people act like jerks. I want to have right reactions,
completely submissive to the Holy Spirit in me. I don’t want to balk and rebel.
I want to have a heart that says “yes, Lord.”
I want to live
with sins confessed and forsaken. I want to catch those things that don’t
please God, confess them, and get cleansing, so that I might be a clean vessel
that God can use. (1 John 1:9; 2 Timothy 2:21)
I want a new heart for 2015.
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| Illustration by: cuteimage |
How about you? Do you have a
resolution or goal you’d like to share?
(An excellent article about setting realistic goals is this one by Jess Connell. You can access it here. My post about New Year's Resolutions is linked here.)
(An excellent article about setting realistic goals is this one by Jess Connell. You can access it here. My post about New Year's Resolutions is linked here.)
I enjoyed Jess's post as well - she brought up some great things to think about when setting resolutions or goals.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually make NY resolutions, either, but the end of one year and beginning of another do provide a good time to evaluate. I like your desire for this year. :-)
Thank you, Barbara! Happy New Year!
DeleteMe too, Lou Ann, I also want a "new heart". Excellent thoughts from God's Word. love, Joy
ReplyDeleteThank you. Happy New Year!
DeleteBeautiful post!! I needed this this morning and appreciate your time and effort writing it. A new heart, or at least a refurbished one!! Happy New Year!
ReplyDelete"Refurbished." Love it! God bless you, Tori!
DeleteThanks for sharing my article, Lou Ann! I, too, want the kind of heart you describe here. Blessings to you in this New Year!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jess! I appreciate so much your wonderful blog.
Delete