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Leaning on the words of the prophet Ezekiel, KS Maui Kahu Kalani Wong KSK’74 says that the future – though unknown – will be bright if we shed our hearts of stone and our attitudes of fear, and put our trust in ke Akua.

Weekly devotional: Stepping into the future with faith

Jan. 8, 2021

Contributed by KS Maui Kahu Kalani Wong KSK’74

Ka Ipu o Lono shares weekly devotionals to provide spiritual enrichment to members of the Kamehameha Schools ‘ohana. For more inspiration, visit the KS “Our faith” website.

 

Heluhelu Baibala
Scripture reading

A e hāʻawi aku au iā lākou i ka naʻau hoʻokahi, e hāʻawi hoʻi au i ʻuhane hou i loko o ʻoukou, a e lawe aku au i ka naʻau pōhaku mai loko aku o kā lākou ʻiʻo, a e hāʻawi aku au i ka naʻau ʻiʻo iā lākou; I hele lākou ma koʻu mau kānāwai, a e mālama hoʻi i kaʻu mau ʻoihana, a e hana hoʻi ia mau mea; a e lilo lākou i kānaka noʻu, a ʻo wau hoʻi i Akua no lākou. – ‘Ezekiʻela 11:19-20

 

And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God. – Ezekiel 11:19-20

 

He manaʻo o ke kahu
Did you know that the journey to the Promised Land was to be a short trip for the Jewish nation after God set them free from captivity in Egypt? Yup. What should have taken days ended up taking 40 years due to the hard hearts of those who lacked faith in God’s ability to clear the land of those living there.

God had promised them a land “flowing with milk and honey” and it was theirs for the taking. Even when the spies came back with evidence of the bounty of the land, the nay-sayers – those with hearts of stone – caused the shutting of the doors and forced the people to wander in the desert until their generation had passed.

We are at the doorstep of a future that is “flowing with milk and honey” yet we are hampered with thoughts of giants in the land. What will free us to have a newness of heart? Our scripture from the prophet Ezekiel has the answer for what changed the nation of Israel and speaks to us as well. It is the same thing that would have gotten the people into the land in the first place – faith in God. REAL FAITH. If the people had truly trusted ke Akua back in the day, they would have not had to suffer in the desert. If we have that same faith, our future will be bright.

As we head into 2021, let’s shed our hearts of stone and our attitudes of fear, so that ke Akua may do His work in us. As we open our naʻau a me manaʻo, our hearts and minds to Him, we will be walking in His will and His way.

As we commit to living under His lead, we show that He is our God, and we are His people. Know that as you do so, you will come across nay-sayers. Don’t let their fears become your fears. Show them your faith, your hope and your future in God, so they might have something to grasp onto. Remember Matthew 6:33 assures us – “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.”



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