Cultivating your Heart for God

“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And 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. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God.” Ezekiel 36:25-28

The Lord wants each of His followers to have a "heart of flesh" so that we will be teachable and willing to obey the Word. Often God allows circumstances to take place in our lives to mold and shape us to be more like Him. A true follower of Christ submits to the pressure and assumes the form God desires. God cultivates your heart like the potter shapes the clay.

To further the process, God has sent the Holy Spirit to actively assist each follower. By listening and following the Spirit's promptings, our hearts become even more sensitive to His leading. The Lord is able to impart greater understanding of His Word to a willing and teachable heart because it has faithfully accepted and obeyed previous promptings.

Resisting God results in a hardening of the heart. A hard heart is like a heart of stone. A heart of stone is not open or available to the things of God. The heart of stone stops growing, withers and dies. But those who are accustomed to intimacy with Christ will be quick to deal with sin and return to the place of obedience that produces a full life, made of joy, peace, and other spiritual blessings.

People with a heart for God stay closely connected to other followers of Christ. They are eager to encourage and build up others in their walk of faith. Followers of Christ are receptive to what God wants to tell them. They are willing to listen. They are open and teachable to the guidance and correction of other believers.

This week when you study the Word and pray, continue to listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Partner with Him in the transformation of your heart. As God speaks to you, take your time, slow-down and listen. Trust in the Spirit's ability and power to help you follow and obey His leading. Let your heart be molded, shaped and transformed into a beautiful and useful heart for God. What is preventing you from growing more fully in Christ?