A New Way of Thinkin’
There are times when I’m in a rut or routine that seem to never end. I need a change of pace, schedule or something. I sometimes simply need to “step off” the “merry go round” of life and take a look to see what all is happening in my life and around me. I can become so inwardly focused that I miss out on celebrating the joys of people close to me. I also miss out on the journey through struggle if I’m too focused on my stuff.
Ezekiel was speaking to the people of Judah who had been through a terrible invasion of their homeland. The Lord was using Ezekiel to speak truth into the captives lives as well as those who were left behind in the city. The Spirit of God would carry him from place to place and he would speak on the Lord’s behalf. Check this out….
17 “So say: ‘This is what the Lord God says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you together from the countries where you have been scattered. Then I will give you back the land of Israel.’ 18 “When they come to this land, they will remove all the evil idols and all the hateful images. 19 I will give them a desire to respect me completely, and I will put inside them a new way of thinking. I will take out the stubborn heart of stone from their bodies, and I will give them an obedient heart of flesh. 20 Then they will live by my rules and obey my laws and keep them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. 21 But those who want to serve their evil statues and hateful idols, I will pay back for their evil ways, says the Lord God.” (Ezekiel 11:17-21 NCV)I love the phrase “new way of thinking”. I believe that I can easily revert to my old “do it my way” of thinking. The Lord has given me a new heart, an obedient heart. He has removed my old and stubborn heart and now I think about what He wants. His boundaries are for my protection and safety. He is looking for ways to bless me and make me whole.
I want His Spirit to stay within me to keep my new way of thinking clearly set on the things of God. I want to love like He loves. I want to know Him. I want to walk with Him each day of my life. I want to honor Him with my choices…my obedience. I want to see everything through His eyes. My new way of thinking isn’t new to Him but it is to me!
Pressing On! Dwayne