Life does not have to be same old, same old over and over again. Your past can be buried and you can start anew and stop repeating the same old, same old over and over again.

 But if the wicked turn away from all the sins that they have committed, keep all my regulations, and act justly and responsibly, they will surely live and not die. (Ezekiel 18:21, CEB)

Your future does not depend on your past but on the choices you make in the present. You can choose the same old, same old over and over again. Or you can turn to God and follow his ways.

Turn, then, and live (Ezekiel 18:32, NRSV).

God is waiting with open arms for you to repent and turn to him. This invitation is for everyone, no matter what has happened in the past. No matter what you are dealing with right now. No matter how ugly and dirty you feel inside.

God is urging all of us:

Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! (Ezekiel 18:31, NRSV)

This is good news, folks! God Almighty is seeking you to give you a new heart and a new start! How do you respond? Do you insist your own heart is good enough? Or do you repent and turn to God for a new heart and a new spirit?

I hope you receive the grace of God and let God work in you according to his best plans for you. I hope you turn to God and, then, live!

 

Gracious God,
We might look good on outside
but our hearts are dark and ugly.
We turn to you, Lord.
We really don’t have anywhere else to go.
We want to live!
We want to leave our past behind.
Give us a new heart and a new spirit!
Show us the way to go!
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: Is it difficult for you to admit you’ve sinned? What makes you turn to God?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you courageously turn to God and live!

* [As you might have noticed, I enjoy reading the Bible in different translations and love comparing them. I have started linking the Bible verses to Biblegateway.com so you can easily read (and compare) them in the different versions I’ve used while preparing each post.]

I always appreciate if you help sharing the blog posts with your friends & followers. So that everyone might know the love of God, receive the grace of Christ, and live in the presence of the Holy Spirit! Thank you! BLESSINGS!

Image courtesy of Josue Ribeiro. This post is refurbished from 2010. Linking up today with Sharing His Beauty, Hear it on Sunday, use it on Monday, Playdates with God, and counting blessings with Ann Voskamp:  #1097 When we repent God gives us a new heart and a new spirit. #1098 God’s promises are not empty. #1099 God desires life for everyone.