“You must have a heart of flesh because what I want to write on it is living, not dead. Stone is for death.”
I saw a headstone with no name but only the dates which I couldn’t make out. All my focus was on the dash between the years. Our physical lives are made during that — .
He was talking about something deeper than the line.
He continued, “Let every fiber, molecule, cell, and even atom of your heart receive God’s instructions. Do not keep a heart of stone. Stone is for death. If you write on a stone in time, it will crumble. When I write on your heart, it is for eternal purposes. The rewards are beyond your imagination.”
“How do I get rid of my stony heart?”
“I do the work, but you need to clear the way. Repent of stubborn mindsets and attitudes. Ask for a humble heart ready to receive. Cast pride far from you.”
I took some time in prayer to repent for my pride, attitude, and general mess.
“Daughter, you are not a memorial. You are a living testimony. Your life lived in love can touch many.”
***
I’d like to take a moment and say to you. Your life is not a memorial, it is a living testimony.
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” (Ezekiel 36:25-27, ESV)
These verses are speaking about the Lord bringing Israel back to the promise land and back to right standing with Him. We have the blood of Jesus to take away our sin when we repent, and His Spirit is within us to direct our paths. The new covenant is such good news. We don’t have to have hearts of stone. We can submit to Him and walk in hearts of flesh. The original creation design heart He has for us. When we walked in the garden with Him in agreement and under the full covering of His love.
I don’t know about you, but I am so grateful that He doesn’t leave us to ourselves. That we don’t have to try to figure it out and struggle without Him.
I really don’t want to have a heart of stone to live my life unyielding to the Lord. I’ve had seasons like that, and it never goes well.
If you are in a season struggling with a stubborn, hard heart, know that there is a way out. You don’t have to stay there. He’s made a way where there seems to be no way. Conviction from the Holy Spirit shouldn’t be something we are frightened of. It is for our own good. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. He only desires you to acknowledge that you went astray, repent and come right back into right standing with Him. This isn’t a fearful process, but it is a humbling process. The only way we can receive from Him everything He wants to give us is to have a humble heart. There are so many places in the Bible that talk about how much God dislikes a prideful heart. (1 Peter 5:5, James 4:16, Prov. 11:2, 16:5, and 29:23) Just to name a few.
Prayer for you and me: Lord, we can’t do this alone. We can’t even identify if we have a hard heart alone. We need Your conviction. Show us where we need to repent and lay down pride. Help us walk in perfect unity with You. We desire Your purposes and plans for our lives. We need Your faithful love. Thank You for all You have done and are doing. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.
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