Thoughts for another day

June 26, 2013.

Today's verse: Ezek. 11:19. 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: (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

I once met a lady at a talk on soft skills.  She is a friendly person and we had animated conversations about self and other things.  While in conversation, she suddenly told me how she had changed so much; how she, who was so humble and soft tempered, had come to be hot tempered and patience-less and that had made her join up for the talk.  Much later, I realised the import of what she told me and that I too had changed so much from the friendly youngster in church to a no-nonsense, prude person with no tolerance toward anyone who didn’t do things according to what I held as the right way of doing them.

On further introspection, I realised that in the spiritual area too, I had become so intolerant and also fairly unlikeable because of my seemingly, ‘lofty’ attitude and insulting mannerisms.  It dawned on me that a great number of my sins were because of this character I had unwittingly developed for myself over the years that I grew up, and settled down in life.  So strong is my negative character that even if I desire to change, it’s virtually impossible. 

One of the desires of my heart which I bare before God in prayer is that He convert my heart and make me a person who people trust in and would want to go often to.  And I also discovered ‘only God can do it’ and He is doing it, even if very slowly, He is doing it.  It takes me to our Word above where God says He will give them a new heart of flesh.  Our hearts over the years become stony and cold and indifferent to both God and people.  At this point in life, we’re in total consonance with the world: arrogant, pompous; disregarding the call to change and unwilling to surrender even an inch to anyone who we consider plebeian or less than us.  Much as we try to change, we just cannot for it’s a war against the dark being and has to be fought on the Spiritual level.  Only God brings us to this level and only God equips us with the strength to stand and face the enemy.  And here is His promise in His Word that He will do it and it is good for all of us who’re sick of our own attitudes and want to change to our God given natures, so we can do His appointed task well.