“But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ”  (2 Thessalonians 3:3-5).

“Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye” (Ezekiel 18:31-32).

We have some control over our heart. Ezekiel tells us to make a new heart and a new spirit. The Lord is a gentleman, and he’ll never impose himself on unwilling vessels. We must actively invite his presence into our lives. We are blessed in that God allows us to worship him with our whole heart. He has never forced anyone to worship him. It’s always been a free choice.

How can we make ourselves a new heart and a right spirit?

David asked the Lord to create in him a clean heart and to renew in him a right spirit; while the Israelites were commanded to make themselves a new heart and a new spirit. David had a relationship with the Lord that included prayer, worship, and commitment. He wasn’t a haphazard Christian barely getting by with the leftover blessings from other saints who happen to worship. He initiated worship, and because it pleased God; David danced with all of his might.” When it was time to pray, David was in his place. He knew how to yield his own spirit to the Lord. He allowed God to do as he willed in his ministry. God himself shaped David into a vessel worthy to be used.

The Israelites, on the other hand, had time and again complained bitterly about the hard trials in their lives. It was just too hard to live for God. If only they had listened to the prophet and obeyed God; but they didn’t heed the warnings, and they were ushered back into captivity. If they didn’t learn their lesson while they were in captivity; they wouldn’t learn to be satisfied with God’s provision of manna on the road to the Promised Land. They were so out of touch with God that they played with the world through idol worship. It was necessary for God to command them to make new hearts and spirits before the Israelites would be allowed to carry God’s Spirit. We must never handle the Anointing frivolously, but in total reverence.

It’s necessary for our walk with God to cost us something if it’s going to have lasting value. Obtaining a new heart and a new spirit doesn’t just happen with prayer and church attendance. It takes commitment and sacrifice to make a new heart. Today, invite God into your heart and begin to worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

In this week’s Lattereign, we learn about the privilege of prayer. Privilege of prayer