For weeks now I have been driving past the construction that is going on where I work. They are in the middle of adding a new parking lot to prepare for some expansion that will be happening soon. As I've watched the changes take place daily I've noticed things being taken away and things being added. Today God began to talk to me about how a physical reconstruction like this parking lot is a lot like the reconstruction he wants to do in us.
Ezekiel 36:26 says "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh". When I read this I can't help but think of the construction site going on out in front of my building. Soon there will be a brand new parking lot there and it won't look anything like it once did. The old storage units that were once there were tore down years ago. The trees that needed to be removed to make room are now gone. They've brought in machines to dig down into the earth and remove the top layer of dirt so that new soil and gravel could be put down to lay a foundation for the asphalt that will soon be there. A new access road is going to come in near the end, and when this is complete the land that once sat there with no purpose will have a whole new purpose. And just like the things I just described will take place here in the natural, it is very familiar to what God does to us in the supernatural, and sometimes even in the natural, when He wants to reconstruct our hearts.
The process can be slow and the process can sometimes not be too easy. But if you rely on God, He will do just like the construction workers are doing, only in your heart and mind. He will remove the old things that were there from your past. He will take away the things that do not serve a purpose. He may have to dig down a few levels to remove the "dirt" from you life...things like pride, stubbornness, anger, unforgiveness, rebellion, self-righteousness.....the list is different for each of us. And then He will lay new things down to build up a foundation for which He will build your new heart...your new mind....your new life. He will put things in place like forgiveness, self-discipline, unconditional love, gratefulness, peace, joy, humbleness, meekness, righteousness(in Jesus)....and so on. He will lay down the foundation that He knows is needed in order for you to reflect Him in your new life. He will take a person that once walked around in this world without purpose and He will build you up for the very thing that He knows you were designed for. He will give you new purpose.
Is this process easy and peaceful? It can be....or it can be hard and sometimes a little painful. It really just depends on the amount of surrender you give Him, and the willingness to hand over your old ways and take on His new ones. Please understand that it's not all about works....it's not about what others see you "do" differently, but it's more about how different your heart looks to the One who can see deep inside of it. He knows that when the reconstruction of your heart takes place BY HIM, that things will naturally be done different by you. There will be filters you put in your life of the things that you allow into it. You will walk with spiritual eyes and wisdom to protect the relationship you have with Jesus. You may need to filter things out, like the places you go, and even some people that are toxic and a distraction to what God wants to do in you. However, you will also find that you have a new desire to be worshiping Him more, spend more time with Him, fellowship with His people more...telling others about all He has done for you. Once a true reconstruction has taken place in you, it will become your heart's desire to see it done in others. Not because you see their flaws and are being critical and judgmental of them (if that is your motivation then please check that with God), but instead it will be that you want everyone you come in contact with to feel the love, forgiveness, acceptance and purpose that you are now experiencing. You will want to give away the very gift you have received....Jesus!
God, thank You that You love us as we are, but want to reconstruct us to look more like You, think more like You, love more like You and be more like You. Please removed the stubborn cold dead hearts inside of us and give us a new heart....a new way of thinking....a new life. One that has purpose and pleases you. My we always reflect You as You constantly do a work in us. In Jesus name, Amen
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