A couple of months ago my friend from church read Ezekiel 11:19 at our weekly prayer time. I found the wording in the New Living Translation to be especially impactful. When I got home, I added it to my list of verses that I have turned into prayers that I use during my devotional time. "Father, I ask for myself and my loved ones that we will not have stony and stubborn hearts but that our hearts will be tender and responsive to You, Your Word and Your Spirit. In Jesus' Name. Amen" It occurred to me that if our hearts are tender and responsive to God, then all the other things we may pray for a person, that they would be saved, that they would walk in obedience to God, that they would walk in God's will, would happen naturally. A heart that is tender and responsive to God is naturally yielded and obedient to Him and His ways.
Since then, day after day I have been praying this simple prayer, praying it over myself, our family and loved ones, and our church family. What surprised me was how God began to work in my own heart in such a tangible way. (Join me for the rest of this post on Sunday, September 25th, at Woman to Woman Ministries where each Sunday I share a bit of Sunday Soul Food!)
Yes, yes - praying verses back to the Father. How we all need hearts that are more tender and responsive. Hubby picked up a bug - missing church today. Lovely photo - must be flower day on Scripture and a Snapshot!
ReplyDeleteSorry your husband is sick! So glad you stopped by here!
DeleteThis is beautiful in ALL ways Elizabeth, your photo and using this verse in prayer! Honestly, I've never thought of that. What a wonderful verse to begin with!
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited for you to see what God does as you begin to pray His Word!
DeleteSo true, Elizabeth! I just prayed this morning for my own heart to be soft. I too often let pride and fear infect it and harden my ability to hear His still small voice. Thanks so much for your inspiring challenge, my friend!
ReplyDeleteBeth, my own heart needs to pray this verse daily! It's so easy to get hardened in this world.
DeleteOooh, that is an impactful rendering of that wonderful verse. Thanks, Elizabeth!
ReplyDeleteThe NLT expresses this verse so beautifully!
Delete"...tender and responsive..." By praying this beautiful prayer, will not our own hearts become more tender and responsive each day as we sit before the Lord? I pray this is so. A nice way to end this day.
ReplyDeletei love how different versions offer fresh ways to consider a passage .. this one in particular. after reading your post i looked at a number of versions, coming to the conclusion that i too appreciate the NLT in this verse as well. there is an immediate understanding! ♥
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I missed this post - and I believe God allowed it for a purpose. This prayer is what we all need to pray. I'm praying it today as we face sharing big changes with my dear, little mother tomorrow - praying that I will have a responsive heart. And that she will, too.
ReplyDelete~Adrienne~