“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26)
What does the Jim Carrey movie, How The Grinch Stole Christmas have in common with those of us in recovery? The Grinch was full of resentment and spite, just like many of us. But an amazing thing happened to the Grinch. He allowed love into his heart, and it grew three sizes in one day! Our hearts can do the same, if we allow God’s love into our lives.
Isn’t it wonderful that God cares so much about us broken down, angry and resentful people, that He is willing to put us back together, better than before, with a new heart? God could easily throw His hands up and say, “I’m done with your sorry self!” and leave us in our misery. But He loves us way too much for that. Instead of turning His back on us, He turns towards us. He gives us experiences in life so we can turn to Him for a “heart transplant.” But wait, we get more than a new heart! God also gives us a new spirit. Now we have a new heart and a new spirit so we can experience life to the absolute fullest.
It is almost unfathomable, how much God loves us. He picks us up when we are so broken, with small and shriveled Grinch-like hearts, and puts us back together again with new hearts and new spirits. I’m so grateful. I know in my own journey through life, that God gave me a heart transplant and gave me a new spirit when I stopped drinking and turned to Him. His grace allowed me to see my “enemies” through new eyes and to pray for them and love them. His grace allowed me to stop trying to control people, places and things. God helped me to surrender to accept. He helped me become happy, joyous and free.
F.R.O.G. Practice: Allow God’s love into your life so that your heart of stone will be replaced, and your spirit made anew. Rejoice over how much God loves you!
