The Sunday I was in Montana we attended service at the Harlowton Faith Chapel. The pastor spoke on joy in an unusual way. He did not use only Scriptures, but also songs, old ones as well as new ones. Since that Sunday morning one of those songs has taken up residence in my mind and it keeps replaying. It is one of the old ones, one I have not sung in church for probably decades until that Sunday in Harlowton.
The song’s title is “Since Jesus Came into My Heart,” and the part of the lyric that has been running on a loop in my mind is …
“What a wonderful change in my heart has been wrought since Jesus came into my heart!”
Oh, the truth found in those few words. My heart has been changed and that change is wonderful. I am no longer the angry, bitter, depressed, anxious person I once was. Gentleness has conquered. Kindness has invaded. Compassion has taken up residence. I am loved unconditionally by my Savior and that gives me freedom … glorious freedom … to chance loving others.
All this has taken place because Jesus, lovely Jesus, died on a cross for me nearly 2000 years ago. He took my shame, my blame, my guilt, my punishment. He took my death and gave me new life in Him. How could I not be changed when He came to me and in the power of His Spirit made me His own. No longer an outcast, now a child of the Father.
“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” [Ezekiel 36:26 HCSB]
Yes, “What a wonderful change in my heart has been wrought since Jesus came into my heart!”
Collingsworth Family Since Jesus Came Into My Heart 2012 NQC - Bing video
