When God Reshapes my Heart

… so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.

Deuteronomy 30:6 NIV

A biblical passage in the Old Testament triggers a somber memory: The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants…. (Deuteronomy 30:6a). I wince as I recall holding my newborn sons during their circumcisions. Those mental images confirm that circumcision of my heart will involve pain as God removes anything that prevents Him from claiming first place.

The rest of this verse clarifies God’s ultimate intent for this process—so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live (30:6b). Paul’s symbolism graphically captures how God continues to work to shape my heart to be more fully devoted to Him.

Paul’s final words in verse 6 prod my heart toward another reason for persevering during a time of heart circumcision, so that I may truly “live”. I look forward to all my Lord has designed for me—fresh joy birthed from genuinely experiencing the life God desires for me, a life with a circumcised heart!

Father, thank You for loving me so completely that You would remove anything that hinders me from wholly loving You. I look forward to living more fully attuned and with increased freedom to see and respond to Your presence and Your care. Through Your Son, Jesus, I pray, amen.

Linda Lesniewsk