"Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer" Deuteronomy 10:16
I can be a really stubborn and rebellious person. There have been many times that God has spoken to me about certain areas of my life, areas He knows I need to change in and yet despite His many promptings, warnings and even encouragements to change, I have gone my own way. Below are passages God brought to mind just recently to remind me to obey His commands in every area of my life yet I turned a deaf ear to them. Now, as I sit here in discomfort from a very tense neck and back due to an aggravation of my weak core muscles, I get the sense that God is telling me not to be stiff-necked in my heart and spirit but to remain in Him by keeping to His Word and ways so that I may prosper and not lack anything otherwise I will perish and be destroyed forever. Actually, I was in far more pain yesterday so I really thank God for the improvement I have experienced today.
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives” 2 Peter 3: 10-11
Change My Heart Oh God
“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD” Ezekiel 11: 19-21
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 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. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel!” Ezekiel 36: 25-32
Change My Heart Oh God
“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images and detestable idols, I will bring down on their own heads what they have done, declares the Sovereign LORD” Ezekiel 11: 19-21
“I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 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. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel!” Ezekiel 36: 25-32
It seemed so harsh when I read the passage above, yet it really brings home the truth that God is a holy and righteous God and that many a times we may excuse our failings but to God, each and every sin (no matter how we may measure its significance) is detestable to Him, and rightly so.
