Change of Heart

You know what is amazing to me? How quickly God can change our hearts if we are willing to let him. Especially when it comes to our attitudes towards people. It seems like it changes with the snap of a finger-God’s finger. Since January, feel like I have been continually taught this lesson.

First of all, I am very guilty of getting first impressions of people and judging them on that. Especially negative first impressions. However, I am often unwilling to let him change that. But after I finally pray about it and ask God to show me how to love them, that person does something (even something so little) that instantly tells me: I want to be friends with them.

What I especially hate, is when a friend or family member does something to upset you and it seem like it will take a very long time if not eternity for you to forgive them. And what’s even more frustrating is when you have “prayed and prayed” about it and “asked” God to help you let that go. And it seems that a week later, nothing has changed. The problem: you didn't really pray or ask for forgiveness. In fact, you subconsciously probably still wanted a reason to not like them. But I hate that feeling-that feeling of not being happy with someone, or of not liking someone based on a first impression. I always get this gut feeling that when I don't like someone or feel like I am not “supposed” to like someone, something isn’t quite right. Frankly, it makes me moody.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:26-27

“Apart from me, you can do nothing” John 15:5

There it is. The answer to my problems. When I have “prayed” or asked God to help me “forgive” that person and nothing changes, I wasn’t totally willing to let God do that. Why? Honestly I have no idea. Maybe because I was looking for a reason to not like them, or even maybe I didn't think God could or would change my heart towards an individual. This year though, I've gotten to the point where I just get fed up with feeling like crap-the feeling that something still isn't quite right. Then God just slaps me right across the face telling me to pray and hand it over. And with the snap of his fingers, all I want to do is love that person and be around them. Change of Heart. That is God wants us to do as a community of believers- to love unconditionally. Love believers-even if they upset you- and nonbelievers- even if you have a negative first impression of them-alike. To show nonbelievers him by being like him. Didn't he love us unconditionally? How many times have you upset God in they past year, month, week, hour? He still loves us. And he also knows we can't love everyone we run into apart from him. Thats why we need him.

How’s that for this year’s lesson on love and prayer?