A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh (Eze. 36:26).
Years ago an American Indian chief, Tedyuskung, of the Delawares, was sitting at the fireside of a devout Quaker. Both were silently looking into the fire, enjoying each other's company. Suddenly the Quaker said, "I will tell thee what I have been thinking about. It is of a rule given by the Author of the Christian religion, which from its excellence we call the golden rule."
"Stop," said the chief. "Don't praise it to me. Tell me what it is."
"It is for one to do to another as he would have the other do to him."
"That is impossible. It cannot be done," replied Tedyuskung. Silence again reigned. The chief arose and walked nervously about the room. Stopping before his friend, he said, "Brother, I have been thoughtful of what you told me. If the Great Spirit that made man would give him a new heart, he could do as you say, but not else." And Tedyuskung was right. Only the regenerated heart can please God. More often we should hear the prayer and pray the prayer "Create in me a clear heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Ps. 51:10).
"I feel like a contemptible fine lady--all outside and no inside," said Elizabeth Fry before she was converted. It is the heart, the mind, the inside, that must be changed and can be changed only by the power of God.
I come in faith to Thee,
For all my sins atone.
A new heart give to me
For this, my heart of stone.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (Ps. 51:17).
Years ago an American Indian chief, Tedyuskung, of the Delawares, was sitting at the fireside of a devout Quaker. Both were silently looking into the fire, enjoying each other's company. Suddenly the Quaker said, "I will tell thee what I have been thinking about. It is of a rule given by the Author of the Christian religion, which from its excellence we call the golden rule."
"Stop," said the chief. "Don't praise it to me. Tell me what it is."
"It is for one to do to another as he would have the other do to him."
"That is impossible. It cannot be done," replied Tedyuskung. Silence again reigned. The chief arose and walked nervously about the room. Stopping before his friend, he said, "Brother, I have been thoughtful of what you told me. If the Great Spirit that made man would give him a new heart, he could do as you say, but not else." And Tedyuskung was right. Only the regenerated heart can please God. More often we should hear the prayer and pray the prayer "Create in me a clear heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Ps. 51:10).
"I feel like a contemptible fine lady--all outside and no inside," said Elizabeth Fry before she was converted. It is the heart, the mind, the inside, that must be changed and can be changed only by the power of God.
I come in faith to Thee,
For all my sins atone.
A new heart give to me
For this, my heart of stone.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise" (Ps. 51:17).
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