READ: PSALM 51; EZEKIEL 36:16–37:14; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

Remove from me this heart of stone

I know I’m more than these dry bones

Create in me a heart that’s clean

A steadfast spirit willing

Restore your joy unto me

Morning mercies covering

Rebuild the rubble heaped around

A garden where new life is found

You alone can make me live

Mending fast with breath and skin

Hope once dead revived again

Cleanse me from this guilt and sin

A broken heart you won’t despise

I’m made righteous in your eyes

By the blood of Jesus shed for me

Now I’m yours eternally • Savannah Coleman

• God called Ezekiel to be a prophet to the Israelites. Even though they were constantly faithless to God, God remained faithful to them (2 Timothy 2:13). In His holiness, God judged their unholiness and idolatry. Yet He was always willing to draw them back to His heart, no matter how much they rebelled. He promised to give them a new heart and spirit, removing their hearts of stone and giving them hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). And this promise is also for us today! Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, He cleanses us from our sin (Psalm 51:2, 7). And He gives us His Holy Spirit, who enables us to love God, love others, and follow God’s good ways. If you’ve put your trust in Jesus, it’s true that you’ll still struggle with sin until Jesus returns. But it’s also true that all your sins are forgiven, and you have a new heart! (If you want to know more about trusting in Jesus, see our "Know Jesus" page.) How have you seen the Holy Spirit at work in your life?

• In Psalm 51, David pours out his heart in repentance to the Lord because of his sins of adultery and murder. He knew that he had sinned greatly, but God’s mercy was even greater. Consider taking some time to bring God any sins that come to mind, following David’s example in Psalm 51.

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (NIV)

READ: PSALM 121; MATTHEW 11:28-30; 28:20

During the coldest days of winter, it’s almost difficult to remember what summer is like—how we can go outside in just T-shirts and shorts, and still feel too warm. The sun beating down on us in the summertime makes us long for pools and ice cream and all sorts of things that cool us down, while in winter we’re usually trying to find ways to warm up.

On the coldest days of winter, we might get frustrated. It can feel like this time is lasting forever and a nice summer day will never come. But it will come again. It always does.

And in the same way, when we go through difficult times in life, we don’t have to worry that life will never be good again. Things will turn around. They always do.

God has created many seasons for us, not just winter and summer, but seasons in life as well. Sometimes the world around us feels cold, and sometimes it feels bright and warm. But we can trust Jesus to guide us through all of life’s seasons, and keep us right where we need to be. • Bethany Acker

• When life feels cold, do you get nervous that it will never be warm again? We all have this fear from time to time, but the truth is, no struggle will last forever. And in every season, Jesus is with us. He sees all the hard things we go through, and He has not abandoned us. In fact, it was because of God’s great love for us that Jesus came and lived among us, died on the cross, and rose from the grave. So now, if we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can look forward to the day He will return and make all things new. Then all our sadness and frustration will be gone forever (Revelation 21:1-5). In the meantime, we can rely on Him to provide warmth on cold days and refreshment on hot days—and to use every season to help us become more and more like Him (Romans 8:28-29). How can these truths help us weather the difficult seasons of life?

• Can you think of any ways God has helped you in hard seasons before? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this.

• One of the primary ways God helps His people, is through His people. Who are trusted Christians in your life who can rejoice with you, mourn with you, pray with you, and remind you of God’s never-ending love? And how can you be this kind of friend to others? (Romans 12:15)

The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121:8 (NIV)

READ: PHILIPPIANS 4:8; JAMES 3:3-18

Have you ever seen a place that’s been destroyed by a forest fire? Forest fires can cause miles of destruction, leaving nothing but the charred remains of trees in their wake. And all this damage can be caused by something as small as an unattended campfire. When the weather is dry, just one stray spark can create a fire that quickly burns out of control.

Did you know the Bible calls the tongue a fire? James 3:6 literally says, “the tongue is a flame of fire.” The things we say can have the same effect as an unattended campfire. Our words can destroy friendships and damage lives. Whether in person or online, we can hurt people’s feelings and their reputations—especially when we gossip.

Sometimes we may think it’s okay to say unkind things about other people if those unkind things are true. And while, yes, sometimes there may be a good reason to tell someone, it’s important to think about our intention in doing so. Are we repeating certain information because we want to help that person—or hurt them? Are we trying to process something hurtful with a safe person, or report a dangerous situation to a trusted adult—or are we repeating unkind information to make ourselves look good or feel interesting and important?

Like a tiny spark, a small bit of gossip can spread and cause a lot of harm. But once we know Jesus, having a fiery tongue doesn’t fit who we are anymore. Jesus saved us and filled us with His love so we can build others up with our words like He does, not burn them down. Instead of starting fires and spreading gossip, Jesus calls us to use our words to point to His love.

Proverbs 26:20 reminds us that fires keep going as long as there is wood to burn, and gossip continues as long as there are people willing to repeat it—and as long as there are others willing to listen. God doesn’t want us to take part in repeating or listening to gossip. Instead, we can rest securely in Jesus, knowing that He loves us. We don’t need to gossip to be worthy of love and attention. We can find everything we need in Jesus. • A. W. Smith

• Can you think of a time you participated in gossip? It’s an easy sin to fall into. Consider spending some time with Jesus, confessing any sins that come to mind and asking Him to help you move forward in love. You can rest in His complete, total forgiveness. Then, consider if there are any ways you can bring healing to anyone who may have been hurt by your words.

• When you hear something that you think might be harmful or dangerous, who is a trusted adult you could talk to about it?

Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. Proverbs 26:20 (NLT)