Hearts of Life

After three weekends of wintery weather and frigid temperatures I was more than a little surprised when I caught sight of a flash of red on one of my Camilla bushes. There, tucked between the leaves was not one, or even two, but multiple blooms shyly showing their brilliant red petals centered with bright yellow stamens! I did a little happy dance! I was certain the freezing weather had done them in but there they were as if to say, “you can’t keep us down!”

God, as is so often the case, spoke to me through nature in this Camilla bush. I had assumed the worst; that the blooms weren’t coming this time due to the bleak and cold days we’d experienced. Just as that thought registered with me, I realized that is what occurs in our hearts when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. Our hearts bloom after sometimes years of bleakness and being frigid! Yes, Christ can take our hearts once dead in trespasses and sin and bring life. Ezekiel 11:19 says this, “I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit in them. I will remove the stony hearts and give them hearts of flesh.” (CEB)

It is a heart religion that God desires and our hearts are beyond repair. Through Christ a new heart is provided to all who invite Him to live within them and He, in exchange offers everlasting life! I love the way Proverbs 4:23 reads in the ESV so I will use it for today’s devotion. It says simply, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” There is the promise of the spring of Life we obtain by giving our hearts to Jesus.

I don’t think you have to be unsaved to have a bleak or frigid heart; I think situations and circumstances can cause us to harden our hearts for a season. If you find yourself in a cold and wintery heart season make your prayer today from Psalm 51:10 “Create a clean heart for me, God; put a new faithful spirit deep inside me!” (CEB)

If perhaps you don’t know Jesus as your Savior I would direct you to the Gospel of John. If you feel His wooing you can whisper a simple prayer such as this one:

Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Amen.