Day 2 - A Heart of Stone

Scripture Reading — Ezekiel 11:14-21; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Matthew 7:13-14

In Ezekiel’s prophecy, God is not pleased with the people’s character or behavior. He compares their rebellion to having a “heart of stone.”

A “heart of stone” is cold, hard, stubborn, and unrepentant. God sent Ezekiel to speak to the people about changing their ways, about examining their attitudes and priorities. Yet, right in the middle of a harsh judgment toward the people, Ezekiel shares this promise that God wants to change their hearts. It’s something God will do, but it also requires some action from the one whose heart is cold and hard. The warning is that people whose hearts are still divided and devoted to other things won’t be transformed.

Having a stone-cold heart is a miserable thing. It makes life harder than it has to be. Turning back to God can be a huge, courageous step, espe­cially if it means leaving old habits and attitudes behind. But the promise of having an undivided heart and God’s Spirit in a heart of flesh is definitely the better way. It’s what God desires for our lives. It makes a radical change in life worth every effort, and we can do it in God’s strength.

Lord Jesus, I want to be changed from the inside out. I turn to You and am grateful You promise a new start. I receive your righteousness and release my sinfulness. I receive your wholeness and release my brokenness. I receive your fullness and release my emptiness. I receive your peace and release my anxiety. I receive your joy and release my despair. I receive your healing and release my sickness. I receive your love and release my selfishness. Come, Holy Spirit, transform my heart of stone and cleanse my polluted mind.  For the glory of God our Father, amen.