A new heart and spirit
Today's focusGod promises to cleanse his people, give them a new heart instead of a heart of stone, and put his own Spirit within them so they can walk in his ways.
Read
25Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
Reflection
God begins his work in you by making you clean. He promises to "sprinkle clean water upon you" to wash away "all your filthiness" and the idols that take his place in your life. This is not something you must achieve on your own; it is a gift he provides. He sees where you have felt stained or held back by past mistakes, and he offers a complete cleansing so that you can stand before him renewed.
Beyond this outward washing, God moves deep into your inner being. He promises to "take away the stony heart" that may have become hard, cold, or unresponsive. In its place, he gives you "an heart of flesh"—one that is soft, alive, and able to feel his love. By putting "my spirit within you," God empowers you from the inside out. He does not leave you to struggle by your own strength. Instead, his presence within you will "cause you to walk" in his ways, helping you to keep his judgments and live as he intended.
AI-written reflection on the passage above. Let Scripture itself be the main thing.
Reflect
Is there any area where your heart feels like stone, and what would it mean to ask God for a heart of flesh there?
Pray
Lord, you promised a new heart and a new spirit. Take away anything hard and stony in me and give me a heart that responds to you. Put your Spirit within me and help me walk in your ways.