Jen Holloway
Psalms 139:23-24
Search me O God and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
In this Psalm King David asked God to reveal to him the condition of his heart. David, the one God said was after his own heart constantly sought to know if his heart reflected God’s image. He wasn’t afraid of letting God do “heart surgery”. When I think of spiritual heart surgery, I think of The Great Physician, The Great I Am. I can just see Him, God, standing over me in His white physician coat. His scalpel in His great big nailed scarred hand. I can just see Him as He cautiously and gently opens my chest, and little by little He begins cutting away at my hurts, my disappointments, my pride, my self-righteousness, my anger, my bitterness, my doubt and all my other hidden sins. It doesn’t happen all at once, it happens over time. I don’t just see Him removing those things, I see Him replacing those parts of my heart with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, long suffering, and self-control. I see a heart that was once black becoming a heart full of passion, light, zeal, and compassion for others and audacious boldness for God. I am far from perfect. So daily I must let The Great Physician do His job and I must humble myself and allow Him to open my chest and continue the lifelong process of heart surgery.
Ezekiel 36:26
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.