May 20 | Ezekiel 36:26-27

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.” (Ezekiel 36:26–27)

There’s nothing like that new car smell. We like to have brand-new things because we think they won’t break down as fast. God does something new because it is absolutely needed.

As part of the new covenant Ezekiel prophesied that God would make a new heart and new spirit within his people. But the exciting part about the new covenant is that he will put his Spirit with in his people. Up to this point the Holy Spirit came upon prophets, priests, and kings of Israel.

He helped them serve the Lord in their offices. But never before had the Holy Spirit become available to everyone and then placed within people instead of on them. For the first time God’s exclusive Spirit would be put within his people whether they were in an office or not.

This was truly a new thing, never done before by God. And you benefit from this promise in the new covenant. You have access to what many Old Testament people only heard prophecies about. God wants to fill you with his Holy Spirit and minister through you to others. What a great opportunity!

Action Step: Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with his power. Part of your salvation was to be sealed with the Spirit. But he wants to do much more. He wants to minister through you to others.

Holy Spirit, thank you for dwelling in me. Fill me with your power and minister through me to those around me. I am here for you, your servant. Do whatever you wish through me.