February 12, 2026

djohnstoncc
5 days ago
2 min read

FROM A STONY HEART TO A TENDER HEART

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees...”

Ezekiel 36:26-27 NLT

TODAY’S THOUGHT

The nation of Israel had reached a point where their outward actions were just a symptom of a deeper, internal disease. They were stuck in a cycle of idolatry and rebellion because their hearts had become "stony"—hardened, cold, and completely unresponsive to the voice of God.

The remedy wasn't a set of new rules or better self-control. They didn't need a self-help seminar; they needed a heart transplant.

The Failure of "Acting the Part"

We often fall into the same trap. We try to improve our behavior by learning the right "lingo," wearing the right clothes, or attending the right services. But religious performance is exhausting. If the heart hasn't changed, the truth eventually comes out in our hidden moments, our attitudes, and our reactions under pressure.

A Divine Exchange

God’s promise is radical. He doesn't offer to "patch up" your old heart; He offers to replace it.

The Stony Heart: Is stubborn, resistant to change, and driven by the "flesh" perspective.
The Tender Heart: Is responsive, open to God’s nudges, and driven by a Kingdom mindset.

This transformation is a gift of grace, something we cannot earn. When God performs this spiritual surgery, our thinking begins to align with His. Much of the anxiety and stress we face comes from the friction of trying to act like a believer while still possessing a hardened heart. When the heart is made new, the friction disappears.

The Resident Guide

Once the transplant is complete, the Holy Spirit moves in. He doesn't stand over us like a taskmaster; He lives inside us as a Teacher and Guide. * He nudges us toward God’s will.

He reframes our perspective through the "Mind of Christ."
He empowers us to obey God’s regulations naturally, as a byproduct of our new nature rather than a burden of the law.

Is Your Heart Responsive?

A tender heart is like soft clay in the hands of a potter. A stony heart is like a rock that can be broken but never shaped. Which one are you carrying today?

TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit, I invite You to perform the surgery I cannot do for myself. Take away any part of my heart that has become stony, stubborn, or unresponsive to Your voice. Give me a tender, responsive heart today. Help me to see life through Your eyes and walk in Your ways with joy. Amen.

“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”