Guess what? It’s National Heimlich Maneuver Day! why As far as maneuvers go, it’s one of the best. Do you have plans for celebrating? Are you all practiced up? I had to give my special needs daughter the Heimlich once. And that was enough. Her choking in the middle of a hamburger joint was so scary! So we will skip to Ezekiel 36:26 and a different kind of removal. Although not much more appetizing than a piece of hot dog.
“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.” Ezekiel 36:26 NIV
Ezekiel was a prophet and an exile. His fellow Jews believed they would return to Jerusalem, but Ezekiel preached that it was more important for them to return to the Lord. He comforted them with ideas of what God can do with a repentant heart. And in many ways he pointed to the ultimate renewal available to us us through the Messiah, who had not yet come – and who we now wait to return.
The moment we trust in Jesus, He removes our sin-filled heart and gives us a new heart. But if we don’t walk daily with Him and we fill our lives with things that are not of Him, our hearts can harden. While we don’t lose our salvation, we can lose close fellowship with Him. And relationship with the creator of the universe is the greatest treasure. So today I am praying to keep this separation from happening in my own life.
Replace the pronouns with the appropriate ones for the person (or yourself) that you are praying for. And if you are praying for your kids, say their names before the Father. I am doing so here in the privacy of my home.
Praying for you in this. And don’t forget to share on social media or with a friend who could benefit. It would mean so much to me. And if you don’t want to miss a Praying God’s Word Wednesday, subscribe over on the right hand side of this page.
Such an important and needed prayer as it is so easy for our hearts to become cynical. Thanks for this prayer, Lauren!
You are so right, Joanne.
a tender heart. oh yes, Jesus, please keep us soft and receptive to Your work in our lives.
Amen, Linda.
I love this scripture so much! Thanks for sharing and reminded us to continue to walk with Him everyday.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thank you Katherine.
Lauren, this is such a wonderful post today. I am blessed to have needed this today.
Visiting today from Remember Me Monday #4&5
I invite you to link up to my newly launched monthly Link up Sweet Tea & Friends. You can find the link in #4
Thanks, Paula. Cant wait to visit your link up.
The idea that God gives us new and clean hearts means that we can always start over again. We get a do-over when we’ve made mistakes or unwise decisions.
Thank you for linking up at Talent-Sharing Tuesdays Link-Up 21.
Carol
http://www.scribblingboomer.com
Isn’t that so kind of Him, Carol. I’m forever grateful.
Thank you, Lauren. I love practicing inserting my name in Scripture and the names of my loved ones.
I’m so glad it was helpful, Karen.
Thank you for sharing this with Your Moment blog hop!
Thank you!