I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules (Ezek. 36:26-27).

We’ve all seen a newborn baby stretch and yawn as though life is no more challenging than a summer afternoon in the shade. But when a child nick-named “Baby John” was still in his mother’s womb, doctors discerned that his heart was defective, and without treatment he would soon die.

In an amazing operation, surgeons performed a heart repair before the child was even born. Where once death was certain, new life was made possible by skills and knowledge far beyond the child’s.

As believers we can identify with this helpless child. Before we were born again, God discerned our hearts to be defective, damaged by sin. Then, with his divine power and knowledge, he gave us new hearts to love and live for Jesus. Where once only spiritual death was possible, now there is new life in Christ.

Now God calls us to live the life that he desires with the power and desires of our new hearts that his grace and love made possible. Live for him as the heart he gave you beats with love for Jesus.

Prayer:
Father God, thank you for sending the Great Physician who, by the work of the Holy Spirit, gave me a new heart that beats with love for my Savior. Help me today to be strengthened by that heart for your service.