SCRIPTURE
“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.Then you will live in the lane I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.” Ezekiel 36:26-28
SPOTLIGHT
Would you like to start over again? Maybe you would like to have a fresh start at life. Maybe there is the relationship that has gone sour, and you would like it to turn around. The first thing that you need is to have a fresh start with God.
Ezekiel was a prophet of God who told the people of Israel that they needed to have a new heart, new start, and play a new part. Their heart had become like stone. It needed to be replaced with a heart that was directed toward God. They had become self-willed, rather than God-willed. As he preached this sermon, he told them that it would not be possible for them to do it on their own. They needed the help of God to follow His commandments. He promised that they would have the Holy Spirit living within them, if they committed their lives to God.
Lee Strobel has described how he was a journalist, editor, and atheist before becoming a committed believer to Jesus Christ. Now he influences as many people as possible to personally to know the living God. Before becoming this passionate believer, he was a self-centered, nasty, antagonistic person. He tells how his wife became a believer and was completely changed. She began to pray Ezekiel 36:26, because she knew that she could not change her husband. And God did just that. Lee invited Jesus Christ to lead his life. The Holy Spirit gave him a new heart, authorized a new start, and empowered him for a new part. Now he has become an influential defender of the faith, author and pastor/teacher. [Read any books by Lee Strobel and be blessed].
When a self-willed person becomes a God-willed person, first he/she receives a new heart. He becomes Christ centered rather than self-centered. Secondly, he/she receives a new start. Things change. Attitudes and actions are not the same. His life starts afresh. Thirdly, he/she plays a new part. Goals and ambitions change. He lives to glorify Jesus Christ rather than himself.
Are you ready for the new you? Today is the day for you to make Jesus Christ your leader. You will then receive a new heart, a new start, and a new part.
SOMETHING TO DO
Begin your new life today. A-dmit you are a sinner. B-elieve Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the price for your sin. C-onfess to Him that You want Him to come into your life and change you. D-ecide to follow Christ and get to know Him.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I admit that I am a sinner, and I believe that Your Son Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins, and I confess to You my need for You, to become real to me. Today, I decide to follow You. Give me a new heart, a new start, and help me to learn my new part. AMEN!