Out With the Old

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. 

Ezekiel 36: 26

The largest task we will accomplish on the mission trip will be to remove the carpet and lay a new, more functional dining room floor. The new floor will be more durable, easier to clean, and hopefully look better. It is a good example of the necessity of getting rid of the old so that the new and better can be brought in.

The same is true in our lives. It happens when we trade in our old lives for salvation and eternal life. It happens, or should happen, at times when we find it hard to connect to God and to obey Him.

If you read Ezekiel 36: 24- 38, you will find that that God, just for the asking, gave the Israelites new hearts, help in keeping His laws, and plentiful harvests. You will also see that God did this for His children, not for their sakes, but for the sake of His own name. He did it so that people who passed through would know that it was God, himself, who restored Israel.  

Dear Heavenly Father,

We pray for the courage to examine our hearts this week, to ask for your help in shedding the old hard parts of our hearts that are keeping us from experiencing you fully, and for new softer hearts that will commit to You and your mission trip, and will function in compassion and love.

May the people we speak to and work for next week see You and Your hand in our efforts. May we offer compassion and love where needed. May we be fully committed to Your plan for this mission trip.

Amen.

Please join us in prayer for additional needs:

• that the full support needed will be raised
• that we will be an encouragement in any ways needed during the project
• for health and strength for the on-site team, and blessings for our partners supporting us in so many ways