Ezekiel 11:19-20 NLT – And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.

In my High School Science class we would have to disect frogs or perhaps a lambs heart that had been soaked in formaldehyde.  It was a little weird to take that heart that once was vibrant and beating in your hand and begin to cut it into sections.  Now it was stiff and hard and was a little difficult to deal with.  Our hearts are often like that – hard and callous, un-pliable and difficult to deal with.  The harshness of life causes our hearts to move away from the tender compassionate heart that God meant for it to be.

Recently I was reading an article about Heart Surgeons and how they have to actually stop the heart for a while and re-start it again to bring it back with vitality.

Seymour Kessler, a surgeon, authored a book that dealt with his own open heart surgeries.  He said, “Open heart surgery is a confrontation with one’s own mortality.  Once someone has held your heart in his hand – its beat will forever have a new meaning.”  Another doctor, William Knowland, speaking of his own heart surgery said,  “In my opinion – it is unlike any other surgery.  Of course – I didn’t like the idea of anyone operating on my heart.  I accepted it as a necessity – but I didn’t like it.”  Imagine that this is a man who does this every day of his life – struggling with the idea of someone else doing that to him.  He writes, “What I particularly dislike about the operation is the idea that at some point my heart would be stopped.  It had been beating for 47 years – keeping me alive.  Now, someone was going to invade my chest and for an hour (more or less) stop my heart.  Now, for that hour, I knew that I would be dependent for continued life on the proper functioning, not of an organ made by God, but by machinery put together by people.  By people who are fallible.”

Spiritually speaking – our hearts often need open heart surgery.  We need for God to open us up and work on our heart that has become what it was not intended to be.  Ezekiel knew about this full well. He had watched the people end up in captivity because of their sin.  He knew that they needed “a new spirit” and “a new heart” that would be pliable and receptive to God.  It is my prayer today that each of us would allow the Holy Spirit to do an examination on our hearts to see what it is really like.  When we then see how ugly our heart’s have become I pray that we would each allow ourselves to go under the knife of God to allow Him to reshape us back to where we should be.

Psalms 144:1-2 NLT – A psalm of David. Bless the LORD, who is my rock. He gives me strength for war and skill for battle. He is my loving ally and my fortress, my tower of safety, my deliverer. He stands before me as a shield, and I take refuge in him….

As a kid we lived in an area that was surrounded by mountains and we would often venture through the already blazed trails by generations before me. We would build forts with imaginary enemies or even have battles amongst ourselves. Some of those forts got quite elaborate as we would dig deep and cover them up with camouflage materials. We even brought supplies from home in case our imaginary enemies would bring an attack on us. During the spring time, as the grass around us began to grow, we would stockpile “grass-bombs” to throw out of the fort and eventually at one another. We were my moms nightmare coming home every night – with dirt on our faces and all over our clothes. But we had fun and it kept us busy after school and during the summer months. Life has changed. People have grown up. The battles are now real. The imaginary enemy has become real and the fall out and results have and can continue to take their toll. I’m not talking about the physical battle of war but the spiritual battle of the enemy that assaults us every day. Thankfully, our God teaches us about the warriors heart. He teaches and trains us how to deal with the enemies lies and attacks. He has prepared for us a fortress to retreat to when we need strength. He is our shield and our rock to strengthen and protect us. Someone once told me about the journey of salmon up stream. As they move against the current they slowly make their way to a place of spawning for the next generation. If they stay in the current the whole time – they will tire out and die. In order to survive – they must do three things – 1 – rest behind a rock 2- swim deep 3- find a quiet pool. It is no different for us. When the battle comes – 1- Hide behind the rock of Christ. 2- Go deep into the things of God and 3- Find a quiet place and renew your heart. Your God so wants you to take refuge in Him today and He will bring deliverance your way – Just trust in Him.

Jeremiah 50:33-34 NLT – And now the LORD Almighty says this: “The people of Israel and Judah have been wronged. Their captors hold them and refuse to let them go. But the one who redeems them is strong. His name is the LORD Almighty. He will defend them and give them rest again in Israel…

One of the sure things in life is that you will have to deal with injustices and wrongs that are done against you. Life at times is not fair as people are selfish and take from you emotionally and physically. You will get the opportunity to practice over and over the principle of forgiveness in your life toward others. Sometimes the hurt is so deep that just a surface forgiveness will not do. You will have to dig deep and get help that comes from God Almighty. Israel had been taken captive from their homes and their country. The devastation of war and famine had left many wounds in them that would take many years to undo. Their captors were cruel people who abused and maligned them any way they could. They kept the people of Israel captive emotionally, physically and took from them whatever they could. The people of Israel had nothing to hold on to except God. As they cried out to Him – God heard their prayers and He had brought deliverance to them. God is just – always. He defends His kids. He brings them to a place of rest. Whatever you might be going through today – turn to Him. Let Him defend you and let Him deal with your situation. Remember that the Lord who redeems you is strong. He will deal with those oppressing you and you will be at rest.

Jeremiah 33:3 NLT – Ask me and I will tell you some remarkable secrets about what is going to happen here.

Imagine being thrown in jail just because you did what God asked you to do. God had spoken to Jeremiah to tell King Zedekiah that Jerusalem would soon fall into the hands of the Babylonians. In fact, at the present time, the city of Jerusalem was completely surrounded and no one was going in our out of the city. Zedekiah did not want Jeremiah saying anything that would discourage the people and didn’t want to hear himself that the inevitable had come – they would soon all be prisoners of Babylon. Jeremiah was imprisoned and eventually the city was completely taken over and destroyed. It’s interesting to me though that in the midst of this trial that God speaks to Jeremiah. I’m sure that he was discouraged and was wondering why he was being imprisoned for doing what God had asked him to do. I can imagine that the jail situation was no picnic and was probably quite miserable. Then God showed up when Jeremiah was at the end of his rope. It is at this point that God promises to reveal and bless Jeremiah even more then he could even imagine. When you get to the end of your rope – don’t look down – look up. God is still there when we don’t see Him and He’s still there when you don’t hear Him. Jeremiah was at a very low point in his life but God showed up for Him and He will show up for you.

Psalm 105:17-19 – “… Joseph who was sold as a slave, They bruised his feet with fetters and placed is neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested his character.”

My wife has often referred to me as a Joseph. As a boy he received a vision from God about his life but didn’t see the fulfillment of that until many years later. My life has mirrored that in a lot of ways. Things don’t just happen overnight as God has a process for dreams to become a reality. As a pastor, I often hear people talk about their dreams and desires for their life. They will even tell me about the call of God on their life and how they want to serve God in ministry. But when God doesn’t do something in their timetable – they lose hope and the dream begins to wane. Joseph’s dreams we’re God breathed yet there were some obstacles he would have to deal with in reaching those dreams. There would be opposition from his family. His hopes would be shattered as he was sold into slavery. He would be tempted to follow another path and he would be tested in a vile prison for many years. Yet Joseph didn’t give up on God or his dreams. He didn’t become bitter or did he shrink back from life. In fact, he just became better. He didn’t allow the circumstances and obstacles of life to deter him. He was patient and waited for God to fulfill His word to him. He allowed God to build within him character. Each of us will have to be tested about our dreams and desires. It might not happen when you want to happen but it will happen when you will be able to handle what God gives you. Habakkuk 2:3 “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place, it will not be delayed!”

John 20:23 NLT – If you forgive anyone’s sins – they are forgiven. If you do not forgive their sins they are not forgiven.

This is a very troubling verse for a lot of people. If gives each of us more power then we know what to do. Does it mean I just stand up and wave my hand over the crowd and say “All your sins are forgiven.” I don’t think so. You are not God and you didn’t die on the cross. This verse is more about what isn’t being said then what is being said. It pertains to the sins that people make against you personally. I have the power to release people from the wrongs that they have made against me. I have the power to release them from the guilt of their sin. I can help them in the healing process by letting them go free and not hold any bitterness or unforgiveness in my life. In fact, this verse has more to say about my own heart and my willingness to be free of any hardness of heart in my own life. As I exercise my own freedom in this area – it will bring freedom to those around me. If I forgive – they are forgiven. As long as I hold onto that grudge or hurt I am in essence causing them to have to live out the pain of their wrongs everyday. I can release them or I can keep them in bondage to me. I choose to release them so I can be free myself.

John 12:24-25 NLT – The truth is, a kernel of wheat must be planted in the soil. Unless it dies it will be alone–a single seed. But its death will produce many new kernels–a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who despise their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

There is a little word in the English language that is not very familiar to a lot of people – it is the word “process.” This is the means that God uses in every Christians life to get from point A to point B. I see a lot of frustrated Christians who are upset at God because of all the problems they are having. They are quick to blame him for all their difficulties but are unaware that they are right where God wants them to be. When Joseph, in the Bible, was given a promise from God that he would someday be a ruler and all his brothers would bow down to him – little did he know that it would be many years and a lot of difficult experiences along the way. In order for him to step into the position that God had prepared for him – he needed to experience some hard times and be tested by fire. There comes a time in every persons life and walk with God that you have to die. You have to die to yourself and to your dreams about what could be. You will have to lay down your life in order for the process to be completed in you. It’s not easy and at times you will want to quit.  It’s only in dying that you will truly learn to live.  It’s only in surrendering to the sure hand of God that you will truly begin to understand and do what you were destined to do.

Jeremiah 1:18-19 NLT – For see, today I have made you immune to their attacks. You are strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. None of the kings, officials, priests, or people of Judah will be able to stand against you. They will try, but they will fail. For I am with you, and I will take care of you. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

A lot of my life has dealt with insecurities about my identity and my ability to do and be things. I was shorter than most kids and even though I was good at sports – there were others that were better. I played the trumpet really well but again there were others who were better. I got good grades in school but I was never on the honor roll. I applied for a job as a policeman but was a ¼ of an inch too short. As a pastor I was always being compared to my dad who was very successful and then to my younger brother and sister whose lives also seemed to be very successful. My mind often played over-time with condemnation that I wasn’t good enough or ever would be. For me and for a lot of people – its hard to be comfortable in our own skin. We would always rather be someone else or have another life. I can’t say that I had an overnight epiphany but it has been a layered process that has brought me to this wonderful place of accepting who I am and what I’m called to do and be. I love my life. I love my family and I love my job. I am at peace with myself and I know with all my heart that God is with me today. He has protected me over and over from the criticisms of people and made me the man of God I am today. God is with and God does take care of me. I don’t have to go around life with my insecurities on my sleeve – I am a child of the King and I am so blessed today.