Only God Can Change a Heart

Thistlebend Quiet eMoment

by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 4:31-37 ESV

31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee.
And he was teaching them on the Sabbath,   
32 and they were astonished at his teaching, 
for his word possessed authority.   
33 And in the synagogue there was a man  
who had the spirit of an unclean demon,  
and he cried out with a loud voice, 
34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?  
Have you come to destroy us? 
I know who you are– the Holy One of God.”   
35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying,
“Be silent and come out of him!”  
And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst,
he came out of him, having done him no harm.   
36 And they were all amazed and said to one another,  
“What is this word?  For with authority and power he commands
the unclean spirits, and they come out!”   
37 And reports about him went out into
every place in the surrounding region.
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“What is this word?” they asked.
Not only did this man Jesus possess authority in His teaching,
he had power over demons too.
This was amazing to the crowd.
They were impressed, they were all quite impressed.
But not forever, not for long.
Over the centuries man has witnessed many miracles–
supernatural events displaying God’s power and sovereign reign–
but seeing isn’t believing.
Only God can change a human heart.

For some this may seem like bad news,
but it is actually good news because God is able to change hearts.
When we sense apathy or indifference in our hearts
we can cry out to God to rescue us.
No matter where you find yourself in your walk with Him,
no matter how hard your heart may feel,
no matter how far you may have strayed,
no distance is too far.

This week’s passage is evidence of this.
He has power over all, even over demons.
If He can deliver from the devil,
He can deliver from unbelief, doubt, or double-mindedness.

John 14:13-14
13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do,
that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14  If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

TAKING GOD’S WORD TO HEART

Do not take for granted what the Lord has done
or what the Lord has done for you.
Take His Word to heart and ask Him to work in your life through it.
If you are weary, confess this
and ask Him to pick you up and carry you to Himself.
If you are unbelieving or have doubts,
confess and then ask Him to help your unbelief.
If you are only half-hearted in your love,
devotion, and commitment to Him,
confess and then ask Him to take your heart
and make it a fully committed and devoted heart,
so that you can love Him with your all.

James 4:4
You do not have, because you do not ask.

So ask.
Ask God to fan into a great flame
the gift of faith He has given to you.
Continue to ask, believing His promise
that if you ask anything in His name He will do it.
Look forward with great anticipation
for what He is going to do.
May He be glorified.

MEDITATE or MEMORIZE

Write out the following passage from Luke 4 and recite it 3 times.
Take it with you throughout the day.

35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying,
“Be silent and come out of him!”  
And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst,
he came out of him, having done him no harm.   
36 And they were all amazed and said to one another,  
“What is this word?  For with authority and power he commands
the unclean spirits, and they come out!”    

PRAYER

I am asking, Lord God, that you would change my heart.
Cut through the apathy and indifference.
Quench the doubt and unbelief.
Give me a love for you that is whole-hearted.

In His hands for His glory,
Laurie

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