An Open Heart

[cmc]

You are reading a daily devotional from Notreligion.

December 9, 2008
Key Passage: Acts 16:11-15
Topic: Salvation
The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. (Acts 16:14, ESV)

Have you ever been reading your Bible and had a specific verse or words just jump off the page at you? Or have you ever listened to a sermon where the speaker seemed to be speaking directly to you?

If you have, you've encountered what a woman named Lydia experienced. She was one of a group of women who'd gathered near a river for a time of prayer. The apostle Paul came along and spoke to this little band of worshippers. The Bible says that "The Lord opened her [Lydia's] heart so she paid attention to what was said."

And because she did pay attention, she believed Jesus is God's Son and she put faith in Him and received Him into her life. As a result, she and her entire household were baptized. And she was so delighted and excited to learn about Jesus that she asked the traveling missionaries, Paul and Barnabas, to stay in her home as her guests.

It's just as exciting for us when the presence of the Lord makes us acutely aware of a certain Bible passage or words in a sermon. And often, like Lydia, we suddenly know what God wants because He's clearly spoken to us through His Word or His messenger.

Our part is to do what He asks.

For Lydia, it meant believing in Jesus and being baptized. For those of us who are believers, it might mean recognizing a call to the mission field or into ministry or it may mean facing a difficult situation with absolute trust in Him.

Whatever the situation, let God open your heart and be sure to pay attention.





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[toad]

Originally Posted by cmc

The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. (Acts 16:14, ESV)

Have you ever been reading your Bible and had a specific verse or words just jump off the page at you?

In college I had a couple of assignments to read books of the Bible. It was a secular class, the books we read were Genesis and Job. I remember reading the books as an unbeliever and giving a report. Eleven years later when I read them as a born again new Christian, I found that the Lord had opened my eyes to see the words in new light. The Holy Ghost works in my life this way today..............toad

[Fluttering]

I find it interesting that within the word heart is the word "ear"
when our heart is open we are listening from the ears of our heart