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.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
What a wonderful promise from God.
He really IS concerned about the heart’s condition.
For he has said, “where your treasure is there will be your heart”.
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit,
to sustain me.
That is a prayer.
Create in me…a pure heart
Renew in me…a steadfast spirit
(dictionary.com says: steadfast is fixed in direction; firm in purpose;
unwavering; firmly established).
Restore to me…the joy
Grant me…a willing spirit
Do not cast me:
(dictionary.com says: to throw or hurl; to cause to fall upon in a direction;
to throw out or down; to part with shed or drop; to set aside or throw forth; to place hastily or with force to reject or discard).
Do you get it yet? It is a prayer…
Do not discard me or push me away Lord
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Is that even possible? That He would take His Spirit from us?
That would be a scary thought.
The Holy Spirit is our comforter. Our discernment.
It would feel so empty without the spirit with us.
Lord God we ask for a new Heart … we seek a new heart…
for this new year.
Along with that we ask for a new spirit too.
Help us Lord to have hearts that cry for others
with tenderness and compassion.
Lord God as we walk in your word and abide in your truth
we pray that you will sustain us with a willing spirit
as you restore in us the joy of your Salvation.
May THIS year be the year of joy and salvation and hope and healing.
Are you ready?
That is my prayer for 2011. A new heart that is broken for Jesus and others.