Morning prayer · 13 March

A heart of flesh

A plain stone sitting on a table slowly softening into a folded cloth, showing the heart of stone becoming a heart of flesh, with the words “give me a heart of flesh” lettered by hand.

Lord, you have mercy on everyone. Take away my sins, and in your mercy light the fire of your Holy Spirit in me. Take away my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh: a heart to love you and worship you, a heart to delight in you, to follow you and to enjoy you. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:26 (BSB)

Adapted from St Ambrose, via Prayers Ancient and Modern (1897), in plain words. The verse is from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). Drawing: Mutter.