"And I will give you a heart of flesh." — Ezekiel 36:26

A hard heart doesn’t love the Redeemer, but a renewed heart burns with love for Him. The privileges of this renewed heart are many: "It’s here that the Spirit dwells, it’s here that Jesus rests." It’s designed to receive every spiritual blessing,

and every blessing comes to it. It’s prepared to produce every heavenly fruit to the honor and praise of God, and that’s why the Lord delights in it. A tender heart is the best defense against sin and the best preparation for Heaven. A renewed heart stands watch, looking for the coming of the Lord Jesus. Do you have this heart of flesh?

Artists use dark colors in a painting to make the light stand out more, and God uses our dark times to highlight the brightness of His mercies. The tears of repentance sow the seeds of a joyful harvest. Spiritual sorrow is like the architect of the temple

of praise; or, at the very least, it floats the materials needed for building that beautiful house. To truly appreciate mercies, we must first experience miseries.