Can A Person Really Have A Change Of Heart?

Are there some people that God Cannot Change?

We sometimes think that a person is too hard for God to change. Maybe they are from a background with a reputation, or from a lifestyle that is counter to God's will for their good, so we doubt that change is possible.  The Bible relates an incident of such a one who changed.

"As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day." 1 Samuel 10:9.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND

Saul was just a farm boy looking for his lost livestock which he couldn't find.  He had no designs on the kingship.  He was not interested in any exceptional service to God or God's people.  The prophet Samuel came and anointed him as king and then God did something.  He changed Saul's heart.

WHAT WE KNOW

Though Saul was far from perfect he is credited with many great accomplishments of a rare leader.

Some changes in him were immediate and others become evident over time but the change could not be disputed.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW

The verse does not tell in detail how God changed Saul's heart; whether it was circumstances, or the miracle of the Holy Spirit, or some sort of awakening.

We do not often know the details of the Almighty's working, but we can see the evidence of it.

WHAT WE CAN DO
A heart can change and the person with it, but remember the verse above tells us it was God that did the change not Samuel's preaching, teaching, or act of anointing.  There are many people around us who need God to make the change in their hearts.  We do not go around with anointing oil to anoint them, but we do have the blessing of prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit.  Pray that God changes the hearts of those around you, and pray for a change in your own heart.

If you feel that you need a change in your life then see my other post about the Gospel CLICK HERE.

(c) Adron Dozat 11/2/15

What Can You Do When Everything Is Against You? Help From The Bible. 1 Samuel 14:6

Sometimes it looks like the whole world is against us and there is no way out of a situation. A young warrior once faced a garrison of enemy troops alone but found confidence and victory.

"Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of these pagans perhaps the Lord will help us. Nothing can hinder the Lord, He can win the battle whether he has many warriors or few." 1 Samuel 14:6.

A LITTLE BACKGROUND
Jonathan was the son of the king, Saul, during the times of war with the Philistine nations surrounding the nation of Israel. The Philistines had an outpost that threatened Israel. Jonathan was inspired to attack the outpost alone.

NOTHING
This great statement of faith is full of confidence in God.  There is nothing, no person, and no situation that can stand in the way of God and his intentions.

HE CAN WIN
Since there is nothing that can stand against the Lord he will win, but to say he can win is an understatement- it is a certain fact.

WHETHER
We look at numbers and statistics and we try to calculate if things will go the way we want. The Almighty is not disturbed that the odds are against him. He is God; he will be victorious no matter what. This is saying God is bigger than the enemy, he is bigger than our problem and he is bigger than anything we can face.

IT IS ABOUT THE LORD NOT US
Jonathan put his faith in the Lord of Host, not his own strength or sword. God wins the battle; he can do it by many or few because he does not need numbers or armies.

Jonathan's faith was in the Lord for victory and for salvation from his enemies. His statement of faith and confidence is for the glory of God and is an example to us.

If you are facing overwhelming foes look to the Almighty Father who is far bigger than any problem we can face.

If you are interested in learning more about salvation click here to read my other blog.

(c) Adron 11/11/13

What is The Worst Thing You Can Do?

There are many wrongs we can commit and wrongs we can do by omission. Some transgressions are against God and others hurt loved ones. What if there is one sin that is worse than all others? Shouldn't we want to be aware of it, especially if it hurts a loved one? The ancient prophet feared one sin in particular.

"As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against you by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right." 1 Samuel 12:23, NIV.

SAMUEL'S RESOLUTION
Samuel as one of Israel's greatest prophets led the nation spiritually and politically. His leadership was not always well received by the people even though it was endorsed by God. The verse above comes from the time when the people asked for a king to rule over them, this was a rejection of God and of Samuel. Samuel could have said something like, "OK. if you wash your hands of me I wash mine of you." Instead, he reaffirms his commitment to the people. The greatest thing he can do for the people is to pray for them. The prophet had a duty to pray for the people but he takes it further saying it is a sin not to pray for them. He says, "Far be it from me..." To not pray is the last thing he would think of doing.

IS NOT PRAYING FOR YOU A SIN?
Not to pray for the people was a sin for Samuel. The Bible teaches that all who believe have the responsibility of priesthood. We are commanded to pray for one another, so is a sin to not pray for others.

WHY PRAYER?
God has given the gift of prayer to mankind.  He always wanted to share his power and make mankind the partner in his works*. He seems to hold back the good he would do waiting for our partnership expressed by prayer to enable him to do wonders.

Since God has made us his partners in doing good and if we fail to pray we are not doing our part to allow the good God would do to be done. Being God his ability to do good is infinite, so we have the power to see infinite good happen in the lives of our family and friends.

THE FAILURE
Believers who come to God through faith in the work and sacrifice of his son on the cross for sins have a relationship to God with the great blessings of son-ship and a special privilege to pray. If The All-powerful Creator of the universe has promised that if we ask anything in his name he will give it1 and if we fail to pray we rob others of the possibility of the actions of The All-powerful God in their behalf. Could we commit a greater sin against another by not praying to The All-powerful God to move on their behalf?

Let us all be people of prayer.

Footnote
*God the Creator did not need a gardener if he has the ability to create the universe and gardens so he must have another reason to put Adam in the garden. As soon as God created man he began to share with the man a partnership of some kind. The Bible teaches a progression of God sharing his partnership in glory starting the account of Adam serving in and sharing God's garden in Eden and ends with a man sharing God's glory in heaven.

1 John 14:14

© Adron 1/5/13

Encouragement From The Bible For The Barren Woman 1 Samuel 1:27

No one can really offer counsel to the hurt a woman feels when she is struggling to have a child to love and hold. No one else can feel the pain she feels- it is a very private grief. I do not wish to be trite or to belittle the deep hurt but in love to offer a few words of hope from the Bible.

"And she said to him, 'As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord.  For his whole life, he will be given over to the Lord.'  And he worshiped the Lord there." 1 Samuel 1:26-28. NIV.

BACKGROUND
The story of Hanna is familiar, she was one of two wives, and she was taunted by the other wife for being without a child. Hanna prayed silently at the Tabernacle, pouring out her heart for the Lord to show mercy to her and give her a child. She promised to give the child to the Lord's service. God chose to honor her prayer and gave her a son, and incredibly, she keeps her promise when the child is weaned, she drops him off at the Tabernacle to serve God. That son of Hanna's became a great prophet, maybe the greatest in the Old Testament, and God gave Hanna other children.

HANNA
Hanna was truly an awesome woman and there are few like her. She walked humbly with God. She prayed earnestly and in details expressed her grief to the Lord. She kept her vow and gave her son to the Lord.

GOD
When you are hurting, people say these platitudes over and over, and they sound empty and old, but they are true. We don't understand why God does what he does, but we do know that God loves us, he is good, and his actions in our lives are wise. Hanna's resolution of trust in God, whatever the outcome, illustrates to all of us what faith is.

God may in his wisdom deny the prayer for a child. No one has all the answers for why he does for some and not for others. Hanna's example of pleading devoted prayer offers hope for the soul. We do not need to bear our hurts alone but can bring them to one who will gladly lift them. Consider Hanna's example and pour out your heart to the Lord.

A Prayer:
Father in Heaven,
How we long for the day when our pain will be taken away,
When we dwell not in sorrows but in the joy of your kingdom.
You know my pain and understand it far better than I do.
You understand the disappointment and sorrow.
I do not understand why this has happened,
Except we live in a fallen world.
Hear my plea for your grace and show me your loving mercy.
May You be for me that which I have not found.
I bring my hopes, and dreams, my pain, and sorrow to you,
and present them to the cross where the blood of Jesus' love covers all.
I accept on faith from your peace and the beginning of healing.
I accept that your will for me is wise and good even though I do not understand.
Thank you, God, for your love.
Thank you that you see and know and care.


To learn more about God's lover for you follow this link to my other blog.

(c)Adron Dozat 3/10/12