Our God is a God of renewal. To the people who bore the full consequences of their sin and lived with the results of their rebellion in exile, he said he would give them what they needed to embrace his goodness and to live in alignment and attunement with it. 

Notice how he says he will do it. He did not then, and does not now, ask people to work up their willpower to live pleasing and purposeful lives. What he asks and what he commands, he empowers. 

God gives us new, tender, and responsive hearts. He removes the hardness encasing our hearts, formed by multitudes of harmful choices and humiliating wounds from others. 

He places his Spirit within us, giving us the will and the strength to follow all his ways. 

Why does God do this? Because he loves us. He wants us to know and experience him, to understand how loved we are, and to enjoy him forever. 

Know him. Love him. Live a life of laughter, meaning, purpose, and joy. 

Why do we gather for worship on Sunday? In part to celebrate this aspect of God’s nature. He always does the heavy lifting in our relationship. He always makes it possible for us to thrive in his graciousness. His initiative leads to our response of praise and worship. 

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I will respond to God’s initiative with a tender heart and grateful agreement. 

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Our Father, thank you for not asking me to do the impossible. I cannot reform myself, and I cannot renew all I have messed up. I need you. Thank you for taking the initiative to restore me, refresh me, and set me free from my hardening heart. The life you give is truly liberating. Make me a testimony of your gracious goodness. Amen.