Counsel of Spiritual Life

Counsel #5 — Heart Work

Picture: Counsel #5 — Heart Work CSL 47.1

Sometimes you may think you must have ecstatic feelings as a sign of receiving a new heart. However, the sign of a new heart is not feelings but a changed life! Your part is to stop chasing what the world loves and go all-in with what Jesus loves. God’s part is to replace the desires of your old stony heart with a new heart that craves to hear the voice of the Spirit (see Ezekiel 36:26). This new heart that God gives you looks like a new mind, new purposes, new motives — resulting in new actions.^[47] CSL 47.2

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.” Psalms 51:10, 11 NKJV CSL 47.3

“If the heart has been renewed by the Spirit of God, the life will bear witness to the fact. While we cannot do anything to change our hearts or to bring ourselves into harmony with God; while we must not trust at all to ourselves or our good works, our lives will reveal whether the grace of God is dwelling within us.” Ellen White in Steps to Christ, p. 57 CSL 47.4

Reflect: How could you go “all-in” with Jesus in greater ways? CSL 47.5