“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” -Luke 6:45

Today, we discuss one of the first things that happens when we return to the Father: He transforms us. We left off yesterday with the story of the prodigal son, and how his father welcomed him in a spectacular way. Let us rewind a little and think about this story, in particular the part where the father asks for a ring and robe to be put on his son…this is the same son who worked in a pig farm, and traveled a long and rough journey to get back home…He must have been filthy! And this is how we all look like, in the beginning: filthy, yet clothed with a royal garment. The deception of the enemy is that we have to clean ourselves before we can be admitted into God’s presence. But the liberating truth of the word of God is that He is the One who makes us holy and cleanses us from the inside out! He does not only change our appearance, He goes deeper…all the way into our heart. As a matter of fact, He gives us a new heart!

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” -Ezekiel 36:25-26

All we have to do is to let the Father work in us. He is the great surgeon. He will replace our hearts of stone with a heart of flesh. Let us be like little children who trust their loving Father and believe that He is faithful to do what He has promised. And let us guard the new heart that He has given us above all else, for from it flows the springs of life (Proverb 4:23).

Prayer points for today  

• Ask God to create in you a new heart and grant you a steadfast spirit. Psalm 51:10
• Pray that God would cleanse your heart from negative thoughts against yourself or others. Zechariah 13:9
• Ask God to fill your heart with excellent and praiseworthy thoughts that glorify Him. Philippians 4:8
• Pray to have a heart that discerns God’s voice and is quick to obey him. Ezekiel 36:26