Memory Title

The Soup



 

Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a new, clean heart, O God, filled with clean thoughts and right desires." NIV

I had been working at the computer for so long I had neglected to realize how hungry I was, how cool the house had become and how chilled to the bone I felt.

Deciding to leave some work until another day I headed to the kitchen cupboard to grab a can of soup. As I stirred the ever warming liquid that would soon heat me up from the inside out, I thought of the number of times I have had to ask God to do a similar thing within my chilly and cold heart.

Times when I had been angry over something that someone had done or when I felt cheated and disillusioned by others and my wounded heart had grown cold and hard towards them, sometimes even towards those whom I loved. I had developed a self-righteous attitude of judge, jury and executioner. I had fallen into the pattern of allowing my mind to continually go back to the offense and then mentally plot and plan just what I would like to say or see happen to them, so they could discover just how they liked being treated so poorly. And even though I knew such feelings and ponderings were not of the Lord there was part of me that felt justified in them. At the same time however I knew that I had to change my attitude for as the Lord has taught us to pray: "Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors." Matthew 6:12 NIV.

My cold and hardened mental and heart attitude however, much to my chagrin would keep on plaguing me until I humbly acknowledged them before God for the sin they were and asked Him to not only forgive me but to change me, for I could not change myself; to create in me a new heart toward those who had failed me in whatever way.

And though I do not pretend to begin to know how it happens, God has never failed me in this request. My heart and attitude would begin to change almost immediately. What had felt cold and stony toward another for so long would literally commence to feel like it was being warmed and softened, until all anger and feelings of injustice would slowly fade away. My thoughts and actions toward that person or persons would once again bit by bit, become good and right and Godly.

As my soup finished heating and I was thankful for the warmth it would soon bring me from the inside out, I was even more thankful for the warmth of God's love that has the power to change a cold and stony heart into a warm and forgiving one from the inside out too.

Prayer: Father God we thank You that You and You alone are able to create in us a new and clean heart, to fill us with clean thoughts and right desires, even when our hearts have grown cold and stony amidst the hurts and disappointments of this life. And You do it for the asking when our hearts are humble and contrite before You. May they be so today. In Christ's name we ask. Amen.

Lynne Phipps Atlin, B.C.


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