October 31, 2010
Guest Post: A Heart of Flesh
12:01 AM | 
Posted by
Seeds Of Faith
The words rushed over me with a slow, deep sting; and I felt judgment and misunderstanding and trembling and fear start to overtake me.
The person before me continued on; uttering unkind words meant to hurt, meant to cause havoc; casually flinging them at me like fiery darts full of poison. I swayed under the onslaught, longing oh so suddenly for that old heart of mine to come rushing to my rescue.
I reveled briefly in the remembrance of my old comforting friend; the dappled pebbles of indifference and smooth sleek skipping rocks of avoidance and huge weighty boulders of perceived control building an impenetrable fortress high and tall and impossible to break through around my bruising heart~ that heart of stone I had carried around most of my life like a ball and chain, dragging darkness and hopelessness and condemnation around with me as I stumbled through days where Jesus was nowhere to be found.
But oh the grace~ oh the sweet mercy~ the beauty of His love and salvation…
I blink and take a step back, letting THAT remembrance and THESE words overtake me; a salve to my weary soul…
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.
~Ezekial 36:26, NIV
I think as the rant continues that the new spirit I’ve been given is a gift to be shared. The steady beat of a heart of flesh; filled to the brim with His glorious love and acceptance and worthiness and joy~ filled to the brim with a new life meant to be proclaimed.
And when my heart is being attacked, when it is constricted with the pain and sorrows and unfairness of this world, I now have the choice to rush back to my old defenses, or to allow His defenses to stand firm.
When pressed to my limits, when my heart is being squeezed so tight I can barely see a way out; that’s when I can allow His love to overflow out of the new spirit He’s given me. That’s when I can shed grace on those that are unseeing.
Maybe that love will show them that they also can be covered; that their heart of stone can be a heart of flesh.
So I start to listen, start to ask questions, start to try to better understand why the other person is hurting so deep and so far that they feel poison words are the only answer.
We sit and share, and the first small seeds of faith are planted in a fellow sufferer’s heart as I share Jesus and pray they continue to run straight into His arms.
I’ve never been more grateful for a heart of flesh as the Gospel comes alive right before my eyes.
Is there a situation in your life that makes you want to run to old defenses? How can you allow the grace and love of Jesus to overcome?
Lindsey Hartz writes about her newfound faith on her blog, A New Life. Her hope and prayer is to reach other women with a message of God's grace, love and mercy.
Blessings~
Lindsey
Blog: A New Life
Twitter: @LindseyHartz
Facebook: Lindsey Hartz
In happy moments, praise God.
In difficult moments, seek God.
In quiet moments, worship God.
In painful moments, trust God.
In every moment, thank God.
Lindsey
Blog: A New Life
Twitter: @LindseyHartz
Facebook: Lindsey Hartz
In happy moments, praise God.In difficult moments, seek God.
In quiet moments, worship God.
In painful moments, trust God.
In every moment, thank God.
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6 comments:
I needed this today. I have felt attacked on several sides this week. My heart is bruised, and the desire to curl into a ball to cry the pain away is immense. Thank you for your grace Lord. Thank you for my sister in You that was led to put into words what You have been trying to get through to me today.
Thank you for a beautiful post! I've been there...many times. I'm so blessed to have the reminder of grace. Happy Sunday! :)
This was my favorite part.. "And when my heart is being attacked, when it is constricted with the pain and sorrows and unfairness of this world, I now have the choice to rush back to my old defenses, or to allow His defenses to stand firm."
I want to pass the test! I want to be found faithful... no matter what!
I too read from Ezekiel this morning. The Lord told Ezekiel to speak and not be afraid - even if they refused to hear. It encouraged me this morning as I minister to the ladies in my own city.
Thanks for sharing your heart with us all!
Great job, Lindsey! It is so hard to let God take over, especially when you are attacked like that.
Thank you for sharing your heart and soul with us. So thankful we have Jesus to run to!
This message was extremly touching to me. I am often told I have a hard heart. I have never read that verse (or atleast it has never popped out at me in this way.) Thank you so much.
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