“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19, NIV.
When I decided to allow Jesus to be the Lord of my life, I had no idea how much change could or would take place. Nothing dramatic happened overnight but let’s just say my view and understanding of God changed. Like Jacob who wrestled with God and walked away with a permanent limp, I have a few bumps and bruises that remind me of my decision made thirty-five years ago to follow Jesus. Make no mistake. Struggling or wrestling with God is all part of our human condition, instigated by wanting to have our way. It is in the conflict we learn to either trust Him or continue to fight Him.
Not long after Jesus came into my heart, I began seeing my shortcomings as never before: a bent toward being judgmental with others, quick-tempered and slow to forgive. After an encounter with a loved one and holding a grudge for a very long time, my sweet husband looked at me one day with sadness in his eyes and said, “you are not the person I fell in love with!” His words cut deeply to the core of my problem.
Tears poured down my face. Alone with God, I asked that He show me how to forgive as He forgives. I couldn’t do it on my own. A few days later, I went to the person with whom I had an issue. No, I didn’t express my forgiveness for their offense but asked them to please forgive me for mine!
Only God can transform us from the inside out. The only action required of us is a willingness to be changed, and then, He does the rest. We are a work in progress but transformation through cooperation, now that’s a great place to start.
Sherry Sharp