Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read Ezekiel 36:16-38 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).

‘A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.’ Ezekiel 36:26

If you type the phrase “famous songs about the heart” into Google, the results return an endless list of famous hits. From singers who tell of a heart that has been totally eclipsed, made of glass, a heart that is hungry, achy, breaky, burnt, broken, haunted… the list goes on. Songwriters tell a familiar story of humans (like you and me) attempting to be in relationship with one another, repeatedly messing up, causing untold and unseen damage to one another right before things fall apart. You might say the story is a familiar but bleak one.

The book of Ezekiel tells an equally bleak story at first. The story of a priest and prophet, wrenched from his home at a critical moment in his career and ministry, taken into exile and yet still selected by God to help bring about seismic change to the hardened hearts of the Israelites. Just as chart-topping songs often go; the Israelites were also messing up repeatedly, causing untold and unseen damage to each other and things were falling apart spectacularly - their hearts needed to be rescued by and reconciled with God.

After landing in today’s reading, we finally start to witness the most abundant hope and light breaking through into the very darkest of times. All of this brought about through a young man who was faithfully committed not just to walking and praying with God regularly, but who listened to and engaged with God to bring about a life-changing transformation in others.

As you read this reflection today, do you find yourself with a completely worry-free, ‘no problems here thank you very much’, joyful and light-filled heart? Or does your heart feel heavy? Are there areas of hurt and pain, shaded spots and unresolved situations that you’d rather not share? One of the greatest and simplest ways we can respond when our hearts are heavy, hurt and hardened - is simply to speak to Jesus Christ. He is waiting to hear from you and me right now. This may be something you’ve never done before or perhaps not done for a very long time, but why not respond now by opening your heart and saying these simple words:

Let us pray: Dear Lord, as you promised in the book of Ezekiel, I pray that you heal me from the inside out - starting right now with my heart. Create a new heart inside of me and take over the heavy load that I have been carrying for such a long time on my own, so that I can share your light and hope with those around me. Amen

Abi Saunders, PA to The Bishop of Burnley.