And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.

Ezekiel 36:26

Nothing like being direct is there? This certainly spells it out. Remember Jacob and his wrestling with God? (Genesis 32:20) Well, when he was ready, God did just this for Jacob. Taking his fiercely independent spirit, and along with a new name (Israel), God changed Jacob to be all he could be – the father of a nation. But this only happened when Jacob had no other option than to hold on to God. After all, he’d just put his hip out! For us this pictures submission to God’s ways, not leaving our independence behind but rather putting it under his authority. Take a moment to think on how we often hold out for our terms of submission rather than holding on to, and trusting, our loving heavenly Father.