Has God Changed Your Heart?

Prayer – Change my heart/ O Lord, make it ever true/ change my heart O Lord/ may I be like You…You are the potter/I am the clay/mold me and make me/this is what I pray (from Maranatha music). Make me into a person useful to You. I’m willing to change to serve You however—wherever—You need me. Thank you for Your Holy Spirit in my life.

(Samuel’s prophesy to Saul) When you arrive at Gibeah of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is located, you will meet a band of prophets coming down from the place of worship. They will be playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre, and they will be prophesying. At that time the Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them. You will be changed into a different person. After these signs take place, do what must be done, for God is with you….

As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel's signs were fulfilled that day. When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy. 1 Samuel 10:5-7. 9-10

 

Meditate. Consider God’s blessing on Saul and the nation of Israel.

 

God changed Saul and gave him a new heart! Amazing the change that instantly took place. The same can happen to each of us as we submit to God—not that we’ll all be prophesying—but we can serve the Lord in ways that He has designed just for us. He had plans for Saul—the new king for Israel—and Saul served well for forty-two years (1 Samuel 13). Short story: about that time Saul rebelled against God by performing a burnt offering sacrifice himself instead of waiting for the prophet Samuel. In this case disobedient impatience was a sin. God withdrew the Holy Spirit from him and made David the new king. Saul was certainly not a man after God’s own heart. Are you ever impatient with the Lord?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God's way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God. Romans 10:1-4

 

Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table

Good heart food—fish. Here’s some Snapper Fish Tacos that I recently ate at a place called Snapper Jacks. Totally terrific taste with mango salsa! Snapper is a fish that is high in omega-3s—so it is good for you, although only a couple of times a week so that you don’t get too much mercury, depending on where the fish was living and caught. It is also high in vitamins E and D, selenium, and magnesium. A winner for nutrition and packed with 38 grams of protein in a six-ounce serving. I love fresh grilled fish—salmon, snapper, halibut, mahi, or cod—and am blessed to have an opportunity to eat it often. How about you? What is your favorite fish or seafood?

 

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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