Ezekiel 36:26 (AMPC)
“A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”
Yesterday we focused on the dangers of a hardened heart. Today, I’d like to talk about God’s promise of a new spirit. Did you know that you’re a three-part being? You are a spirit. You have a soul (mind, will, and emotions). And you live in a body. It’s often easy to focus on one part and ignore the others, but we are truly whole when we acknowledge the needs of all three parts.
When you come to know Jesus as Savior and Lord of your life, the part of you that instantly changes is your spirit. That sinful nature within you that was the result of Adam’s sin has been taken away. Paul tells us “if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17).” That “new” thing is a new spirit. This new is in tune with the Holy Spirit. The new spirit wants what God wants. It is in perfect alignment with the things of God.
The parts that remain unchanged in the moment are our soul (our mind, will and emotions) and our bodies. That’s why we have added instructions to renew our minds with the Word of God and to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God. It takes all three parts working in harmony together to have a transformed life.
God changes the deepest part of who we are when we come into relationship with Him. The rest is up to us. We have the choice to listen to that new spirit and allow it to govern our lives or to do things the way we’ve always done them, listening to our souls that are still in need of transformation and renewal. Which will you choose?
Prayer: Father, thank you for the new spirit. Thank you that you bring the deepest part of me into alignment with your will and your way for my life. Help me to listen to the direction my spirit receives from you. Give me a heart that is willing to obey the direction you are leading. Thank you that you don’t just stop there! You have given me your Word so that I might have a renewed soul as well. If my spirit and soul are in alignment with you, I know my body will fall into place as well. Thank you, Lord, that you love us enough to give us everything we need to live a godly life, one that is pleasing to you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
A Beautiful Mess 