A Prayer for God to Turn a Heart of Stone Into a Heart of Flesh - Your Daily Prayer - September 18
A Prayer for God to Turn a Heart of Stone Into a Heart of Flesh
By Christine F. Perry
Bible Reading
"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
Listen or Read Below
The book of Ezekiel was likely written between 593 and 565 BC, during the Babylonian captivity of the Jews. The Israelites were weary and rebellious. Yet, God sends Ezekiel to be a messenger of truth and hope.
Time and time again, God pursues Israel. Verse 22 of Ezekiel 36, God says He does this for His name's sake. The Israelites are dead and dry spiritually. Their hope has been decimated.
Do you know someone like this? Perhaps they once followed the Lord, but now they want nothing to do with the church. Or they confess they still believe in God but live life on their own terms. Perhaps you’ve tried to reach out to them, or maybe the doors of communication have been closed. What can you do?
Pray!
Remember, God is always at work (John 5:17), even when you don’t see it. Take every concern, thought, and feeling to Christ. He made you and knows how you’re feeling. He also made the person you are praying for.
But perhaps you’ve been praying, and you’re at a loss for words. Why not sing Jesus Paid It All. As you remember all the Lord has done, remember all He can do:
“Lord, now indeed I find
Thy power and Thine alone,
Can change the leper's spots
And melt the heart of stone.”
No one is too far out of reach for our Lord. Just remember, though, His timing is not our timing. His ways are not our ways. He works in mysterious ways. But, He is totally and completely trustworthy – especially with those we love!
Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Father,
You say in Jeremiah 32:27, “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” We know there is not! You knit each person together in their mother’s womb (Psalm 139:13). You fashion each heart individually (Psalm 33:13). Right now we are asking for ______________ (fill in the person’s name you are praying for). We ask that You would draw them to You and that You, the God who created the human heart, would soften their heart.
Father, You know exactly where they are. You know what they need to hear. You know their thoughts before they speak. We ask that You would speak to __________ and that __________ would have ears to hear You and eyes to see You.
Amen!
Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional spoke to you on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/NIcolas Groues
Christine is just a lady who was given the gift of being raised in an incredible family. For reasons unknown to her, God has blessed her with an amazing life full of beautiful friendships, remarkable experiences, and a love from Him that is completely underserved. She desires to encourage others and share hope as we journey through the highs and lows of life. Christine is the author of How I Met Peace and For the Weary Life Traveler, a 31-day devotional. Check out more of Christine's work at her website: Learning to be fearless and her Patreon.
Related Resource: Sheila Walsh: The Cost of Pretending You’re Okay - Buried Emotions, Depression, Mental Health & the Courage to Heal
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