The Lord Opens Hearts

Because of our sinful nature, the Lord opens hearts to respond to the gospel of Christ. The Spirit of grace enables us to respond freely to the gospel. In conversion, we respond to the Holy Spirit through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul (Acts 16:14). These words speak of Lydia, a woman who worshiped God but had not yet heard the gospel to believe in Christ. God opened her heart to hear and respond to the gospel. The word "heart" describes our mind, will, and emotions. It is a term for our innermost person.

God's Spirit of grace goes before conversion opening hearts to hear the gospel and choose to receive Christ (John 1:12-13). It may be identified with the convicting work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11). It is the gospel call for you to trust the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:13). The Spirit of God opens your heart to convince you concerning the truth of the gospel.

Your heart is opened to hear and understand the gospel. He enables you to respond freely to the call of Christ. God works concurrently with your choice. Jesus stands at the door of your life and knocks. You may open the door by believing the gospel to receive Christ (Revelation 3:20; John 1:12).

Christ Is Our Election

Christ is our election unto salvation from eternal judgment. Christ is our deliverance from condemnation. Election is God the Father's choice to save sinners in Christ (Ephesians 1:4-6). Reprobation is the opposite of election. It is the reprobate's choice to reject God's salvation in Christ (John 3:18).

Christ is our election by God's grace. He saves us from the condemnation of our sin. God's grace is his goodness, leading us to repentance (Romans 2:4). The reprobate chooses to obstinately reject the goodness of God's grace in Christ. 

Christ is our election confirmed through faith (2 Peter 1:1,10); reprobation is confirmed through continual rejection of Christ. Election gives mercy to sinners through Christ crucified (Romans 5:8). Christ risen from the dead brings justification to sinners by faith alone (Romans 4:5; 10:9). The reprobate is hardened in his own sin that rejects Christ forever. 

Christ is our election by God's active will to save us as believers. Reprobation is God's passive will to let others continue in their sin and unbelief. Election is the will of God in Christ (1 Peter 1:1-2). Reprobation is the will of man in sin (John 5:40).

Christ is our election in salvation to the praise of God's glory. God saves us by faith in Christ to the praise of His glorious grace (Ephesians 1:6). God passively allows those who are reprobate to reject Christ unto their own just condemnation (John 3:19).

How God Will Provide

God is Jehovah-jireh, meaning the Lord will provide (Genesis 22:14). God will provide for all who believe in his name. That means you can trust in who God is. It's not just who you want him to be. God's name is revealed to you and all believers. You can trust in his name, as the Lord provides for your need.

God will provide as our heavenly Father. He knows your needs before you ask. Prayer is not designed for us to inform God. He knows all things. Our prayers receive from God our Father. Jesus said to pray,"Our Father in heaven"(Matthew 6:9). He taught us to make requests based upon our needs."Give us this day our daily bread"(Matthew 6:11). God will provide as your Father in heaven.

God will provide according to our needs. All of us have needs. Fear says, No one is going to provide for your needs. You are a needy person with no one who can help. Faith says, "My God shall supply all of my need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus"(Philippians 4:19).

Our greatest need is not physical nor financial. Our greatest need is spiritual. We need God. We need faith that God will provide. God's covenant name among others is Jehovah-jireh. It means God will provide. His name reveals His character. It's who He is and what He does.

Walk In the Light

"If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin"(1 John 1:7). Through the gospel, as believers see the truth of Christ by the Holy Spirit. We are able to walk daily in the light of Christ.

"For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4: 6). That is the light of the Holy Spirit. Our hearts are enlightened to see the glory of God in Christ.

Light comes to our hearts through the gospel of Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:5). The change is sudden and abrupt. It's like turning on a light in a dark room. That's the way the Spirit of light changes those who have lived in darkness. New birth scatters our darkness into light. 

The Holy Spirit brings us out of darkness into the light without any resistance. It comes by new birth, through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not our achievement. Rather, illumination of the Spirit comes from without, changing our hearts within. Jesus is the light, as the Holy Spirit opens "the eyes of your understanding"(Ephesians 1:18).

When We Trust God

The first lesson a baby learns in life is to trust. The bond between a mother and the infant is trust. The baby learns to trust the mother to be there. The cry is heard and mother's loving arms lift the infant for nurture and care. So all who are born again know how to trust God.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding"(Proverbs 3:5). None of us can understand all about the greatness of God. Our understanding is limited. Like an infant who does not understand the mother, yet trust is developed. There is so much that we don't understand about God. Trusting God means we don't lean on our own understanding.

Trusting God is based upon His word of promise. He is faithful to all of His promises."God who has promised cannot lie"(Titus 1:2). Our bond with God is based upon His word of truth found in your Bible. When we trust God, we are trusting His word.

Trusting God is trusting His word of promise in the Bible. Read the promises of God. Pray the promises of God. Trust God to always keep His word of promise in your life. Trust God when you understand and when you don't. Are you trusting God with all your heart?

Your Spiritual Battle

Temptation is part of our spiritual warfare, and it comes through thoughts. We have a spiritual enemy who tempts with thoughts. When those thoughts are not rejected, they become strongholds, leading to bad habits and addictions. Your spiritual battle is won or lost in your thoughts. 

Your spiritual battle involves tempting thoughts. The Bible warns of thoughts that become strongholds, hindering your relationship with God. Those thoughts must be pulled down and brought captive to Christ. This is the spiritual battle within you. Bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

Ask God to bring your attention to any pattern of thinking which opposes his good will for you. Pray that all such thoughts be pulled down and brought captive to Christ. The power of temptation is broken as strongholds are destroyed. O LORD, You have searched me and known me ... You understand my thoughts afar off (Psalm 139:1-2).

Thoughts make a difference in our relationship with God. He gives thoughts that will encourage, strengthen, and comfort you. Those thoughts are found in the Bible. Feed your mind on the thoughts of God. In our spiritual warfare, God will give victory through thoughts of love, grace, mercy and peace. Think God's thoughts, according to the Scripture.

Living Faith Works

Living faith takes action to do God's will. Faith works through us. God can do anything that He chooses to do without us. However, God has chosen to work through us. Living faith confesses, prays, and does the the will of God. "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also"(James 2:26).

Living faith says, "I will do the word of God. He has put it in my heart. He is working through me to the praise of his glory. I am a doer of the word." The Bible says,"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves"(James 1:22).

Some may think that faith does nothing, and depends upon God to do everything. However, the Bible teaches that we are laborers together with God (1 Corinthians 3:9). It is God's will for living faith to work through us. Let me illustrate. Put a glove on your hand to do the work before you. The glove does not do the work alone, neither can it. The hand works through the glove. So, God works through us (Philippians 2:13).

Maybe you are in a situation where you are asking God to do something about it. If so, pray like this, "God, what would you have me to do?" Living faith is a doer of the word. It rises up to do something about it. Living faith is doing God's will.