“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statues, and you will be careful to observe my ordinances.” Ezekiel 36:26-27

I recently read a fictional book where the main character was a heart surgeon whose speciality was transplants. At some point, the old heart must stop before the healthy heart is able to take it’s place. Spiritually speaking, we can all have this surgery. I remember exactly where I was when my heart stopped. I also remember my prayer and how it felt when it begin to beat again. It takes awhile to learn how to live with a healthy and whole heart. Plenty of mistakes are made, but for that there is grace. Looking back, it now makes since why responding to the Lord felt more like an obligation and His love something to be earned. A new heart filled with His Spirit changes everything.