A New Heart

This is part of a song, if I remember it right, “Create in me a clean heart, oh God and renew a right spirit within me, create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me.  Cast me not away from thy presence oh Lord take not thy Holy Spirit from me, restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and renew a right spirit within me.”  This is exactly what the Lord wants to do for each of us, but sadly many will never receive it because they refuse to repent and humble themselves before the Lord.

Read what the Lord told the Israelites in their rebellious times through Ezekiel, in Ezekiel 36:24-33, “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. I will call for the grain and multiply it, and bring no famine upon you. And I will multiply the fruit of your trees and the increase of your fields, so that you need never again bear the reproach of famine among the nations. Then you will remember your evil ways and your deeds that were not good; and you will loathe yourselves in your own sight, for your iniquities and your abominations. Not for your sake do I do this,” says the Lord God, “let it be known to you. Be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel!”

‘Thus says the Lord God: “On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will also enable you to dwell in the cities, and the ruins shall be rebuilt.”

Think of this, God didn’t do this but for this one reason, because He declared that He would because of His love, mercy and grace.  How many times did these people bring disgrace on themselves and on their God, but He was willing to forgive them, not for their sakes but because of who He is and what He is.

Now read Ezekiel 37:1-14, “The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’” So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’”

God loved the Israelites and He also loves us.  He knows how rebellious we all have been and He knew we could never be right with Him on our own so just like He made a way for the Israelites, He has made a way for us to be right with Him through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ who willingly laid His life down for us; for without the shedding of blood there is no remittance, or forgiveness of sins.  All we can do is repent and forsake our sins, and that will only come from the Holy Spirit’s conviction, and ask Him to forgive us.  He has done the rest for us, praise the Lord!!   

I pray that you will taste and see that the Lord is good and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  I have given you something to think about, have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!