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Posted 12/3/2008 @ 9:14:30 am by exploringprayers.com
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“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” EZK36:26
Rebellion against God on the part of Israel was an ongoing theme of the Old Testament. God had a hard time getting and keeping Israel’s attention and loyalty. In the same way He competes for our attention in our daily lives. “Announce this to the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah: Hear this you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see , who have ears but do not hear: Should you not fear me? declares the LORD” JER5:20
How many times did the children of Israel disobey him? How many times did God forgive them? How times was the temple of Jerusalemtorn down and re-built? How many times have you disciplined your children and taken them back into your arms with love and forgiven them? Our God is a patient compassionate God.
Ezekiel 36:26
For I will take you out of the nations:
I will give you a new heart
and put a new spirit in you;
I will remove from you
your heart of stone
and give you a heart of flesh.
And I will put my Spirit in you
and move you to follow my decrees
and be careful to keep my laws.
This passage was written during the Old Testament, but it speaks to Israel as a nation and in prophecy it speaks in a future tense when it says “I will put my Spirit in you”. I will give the Holy Spirit and this will make you want to be obedient to me, and follow my statutes. You will be moved to do it. If you have wanted a new heart, get baptized. If you are already baptized, go to communion. If you are baptized and you still have a heart of stone, study your baptismal vows very closely.
God releases you every week from sin and death and puts a new spirit in you. He takes you away from the world and back to Him. He removes your heart of stone and gives you back a heart of flesh. Let his love dwell in you. Let his Spirit instruct and guide you. Let him take away your pride, your wrong headedness, and your selfishness.
Look for Him everywhere, Keep Him in your thoughts constantly. If you fall down, get back up, dust yourself off and run to your Father for forgiveness. Like the solitary flaming sumack tree in the fading autumn landscape, so your Father looks at you and your salvation up close and personal. When he extends his invitation and puts his spirit in you, He is satisfied. “I have reached this one, my work is done today.”
