 Circumcise our Hearts Lord “The Lord Your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live.” Deuteronomy 30:6 NASB God has made it my life’s mission to pray that people’s hearts be changed, and this includes the hearts of nations. Because God has highlighted the heart to me, any scriptures that refer to the heart are of significance, thus my purpose for this article. Let’s look deeper into the meaning behind the word circumcise which is used nearly 100 times throughout the Bible. In Deuteronomy chapter 30, in the Amplified version, the word circumcise is understood as “to remove the desire to sin.” In the Message version, it is to “cut away the thick calluses on your heart.” I feel that I came to have a deeper understanding of this verse when I read Bible Hub’s Commentary. I hope that it will bring enlightenment to the reader also. “Scripture treats the heart as the control center of thought, desire and will. God targets the very core, not external behavior. This promise anticipates the new covenant reality where God writes His law inside us.” It continues to point out, “This verse promises a divine heart circumcision that God Himself performs, cutting away sin’s hardness so His people—and their children—can love Him wholeheartedly and live abundantly. The verse looks forward to the new covenant where inward transformation, not external ritual, produces loving obedience and true life in fellowship with the Lord.” We also hear the term “circumcision of heart” on more than 1 account in the New Testament. To the church of Colossae Paul stated, “Through our union with Him we have experienced circumcision of heart. All of the guilt and power of sin has been cut away and is now extinct because of what Christ, the Anointed One has accomplished (Colossians 2:14 TPT). And to the church of Rome Paul stated, “Circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter” (Romans 2:29 NASB). Each of the verses forementioned tell us that circumcision of the heart is something that GOD DOES, by His Spirit. From this teaching, I have learned the importance of petitioning God to circumcise my heart and the hearts of others, in order that we may love and obey God, and thus live abundant lives, leading to revival and reformation. Noteworthy Highlights (From Bible Hub’s Commentary)
PRAYER Dear Lord, have mercy on me and my generations. First, I ask you to circumcise my heart; perform heart surgery in me. Cut away the callused places of my heart. Give to me a heart that is surrendered to You fully; that I may love You with my whole heart and obey You and Your laws, leading me to live an abundant life. Second, by Your grace, I ask that You circumcise the hearts of my children and future generations. Lastly, I ask You to circumcise the hearts of the people in my city, state, and nation, leading to widespread renewal. Amen. |
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