9 “Thus says the LORD of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another,

10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.”

— Ezekiel 7:9-10

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.

— Ezekiel 36:26

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

–Galatians 2:20

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

— 2 Corinthians 3:18

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

— Romans 12:2

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and love from Christ to you.

God delights when we mourn and celebrate in ways that honor Him. Certainly, life in this fallen world offers ample reasons to mourn and cry out to God. God also enriches our lives with blessings for which we offer praise – the rising sun, falling rain, faithful friends, delicious food, and abundant grace. However, God calls His people to align their hearts with Him. Empty religious rituals that serve only to make us feel better do not honor God but ourselves.

What is God’s heart’s desire for His people? Instead of ritualistic fasting, God seeks hearts and lives that abstain from personal sin against Him and our neighbors. Truly pleasing God cannot be quantified by external participation in religious ceremonies. God is greatly pleased with lives that demonstrate the transformation only He can bring to human hearts. This transformation showcases God’s supreme power, grace, and creative work rather than human effort. It also reflects God’s glory, fulfills His purpose, and aligns with His divine nature.