This New Heart devotion is #3 of the 4 Part “NEW Series”. The series is a group of devotions I felt the Lord putting on my heart for the NEW YEAR.  Here’s what I have so far: INTRO/NEW STRENGTH, NEW BEGINNINGS, I sensed Holy Spirit inspiring me to share hope and refreshing words with you.  The devos will follow along the same format as my normal #SoulH2O devotions except the last one will have a bonus post later in the week for the first week in February.         

I hope these posts build up your expectation for the great things God desires to do in and through you in 2017!  Praying you take hold of all He has for you this year!

Be Blessed & Refreshed,
<3 Sherry Stahl

NEW HEART 

“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 heat of flesh.”

Ezekiel 36:21  NIV

I don’t want the same-old, same-old from life anymore.  This year needs to be exciting!   I’m determined to live all-out and find adventure because Jesus said that He came to give us ‘life more abundantly’1, not life more predictable.

So this year doesn’t end up in routine I’ve planned for some adventure. To start, I’m flying to Edmonton for a conference and challenging the great white north, then we’re taking a vacation and ticking a few things off our bucket list.  In March, Todd and I are headed to Guatemala for a mission’s trip…and that’s just the first three months of this year.

NEW HEART

God had Ezekiel speak hope into the lives of His people.  Zeke encouraged them that God desired to remove their hearts that were hard like stones and give each of them a new heart.  So, what does having a new heart have to do with living a life of adventure?  Lots.  You see, when I had a heart of stone I lived bound.  Bound to worry, fear, resentment, hopelessness and negativity.

bound heartWhen I let God into my hurt and allowed Him to heal my heart He actually took out that heart of stone and gave me a heart of flesh.

A heart of flesh is beating, not bound.

God didn’t set us free to have us sit in the pew. The Bible is full of people living out exciting adventures, not boring people who played it safe. When God truly sets your heart free it’s not afraid to live.

If you’re reading this devotion and you realize that you have a bound, heart of stone, let this be the year that your heart is healed.  Then, let that new heart beat inside of you to fulfill the exciting adventure God has planned for your life!

Prayer

Father…Thank You for caring about me.  I want to receive your great offer for an exchange; my hard heart for a soft beating one.  Please place a totally new heart in me.  Help me to get rid of the things that keep my heart bound so I can live the life you have for me.  In Jesus Name…Amen

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1           John 10:10

[tweetthis]A heart of flesh is beating, not bound.[/tweetthis]

YOU CAN OFTEN FIND ME LINKING UP WITH:
MONDAY Monday Meditations – Laura J. Davis,
TUESDAY Cheerleaders of Faith #RARaLinkup – Kelly Balarie,
WEDNESDAY Coffee For Your Heart – Holley Gerth, Word Nerd Wednesdays — Liz Giertz
THURSDAY Heart Encouragement Thursday – Crystal Storms,
FRIDAY Dance With Jesus Linkup – Susan B. Mead, Grace and Truth Linkup – Arabah Joy, Counting My Blessings – Deb Wolf, Fresh Market Friday – Crystal Twaddell

Sherry Stahl