a change of heart

 

Come to Me...and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

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Several years ago I completed the Beth Moore Bible study, Believing God, which included a Greek word study of the word, “pistis,” translated assurance, belief, believe, faith, and fidelity in the New Testament. 

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We learned the Greek verb tense of the word “believe” was a present active participle verb, and that when we see a Greek present active participle verb, we can think of the word “continually” preceding the verb...

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presently, actively, continually believing

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I was reminded of this present active participle verb tense when I heard the lyrics of this beautiful old hymn, “Jesus, I am resting, resting...”

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presently, actively, continually resting 

in Jesus' finished work on the Cross

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presently, actively, continually finding 

out the greatness of Thy Loving Heart

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presently, actively, continually trusting 

Thee, Lord Jesus

Keep me ever trusting, resting, 

Fill me with Thy grace.

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Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,

I behold Thee as Thou art,

And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,

Satisfies my heart;

Satisfies its deepest longings,

Meets, supplies its every need,

Compasseth me round with blessings:

Thine is love indeed!

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God is Who He says He is.

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God can do what He says He can do.

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I am who God says I am. In Christ, 

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I am blessed with every spiritual blessing, 

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accepted in the Beloved Son of God, 

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adopted as a child of the King, 

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chosen before the foundation of the world, 

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redeemed by the blood of Christ, 

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forgiven by His grace, 

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loved with an everlasting love and underneath are the everlasting Arms, a love that will not let me go. 

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I can do ALL things through Christ Who gives me strength. Lord Jesus, I cannot do this, but You can!  Won’t You give me Your smile?

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God’s Word is alive and active in me...I’m Believing God.

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During my study of scripture, I came to a place in my life where I wanted, more than anything else, to love God more. I began to pray, “Lord, I want to delight in you!” God is so inconceivably good. He’s not looking for perfection. He already saw it in Christ. He’s looking for affection. That’s why every lasting change will invariably be a change of heart. He’ll even supply the heart, if we’ll ask Him.

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Lord Jesus, give me a heart which longs to be a planting of the Lord for the display of Your splendor. Give me a heart which yearns for Your Presence, a yearning for You that draws me over and over into Your Presence, a yearning that makes only a few days without time in prayer and Your Word seem like an eternity. Give me a heart which is motivated first and foremost by a desire for You, not for what You can do for me, but a yearning for Your Presence. Give me a heart that wants You more than anything else You could give, to love You and know You more than anything in life. Give me a heart that takes what You have made known to me and makes You re-known to everyone else, a heart that makes Your name and renown the desire of my heart. Give me a heart to feel Your Holy Spirit woo me once again to the place where I meet You. In the simplicity of my prayer time, give me a heart to be suddenly confronted by the majesty of my Redeemer—the One Who is responsible for any good in me. Lord, each morning, give me a heart that seeks Your forgiveness for past sins, and welcomes Your fresh mercies which fall like manna from Heaven, and once again move my heart. I surrender all. Morning after morning.

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The verdict is final. The case is never going to be re-tried—irrevocable. On that we can rest—we are justified on the basis of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. It is a blessing to know that I am, right now, under the completely sufficient imputed righteousness of Christ. Because I have placed my trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ, I am redeemed by His precious blood. The threat of failure, judgment, and condemnation has been removed. Knowing that God’s love for me and approval of me will never be determined by my performance is the most encouraging promise to which I cling.

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Lord Jesus, thank You for the free gift of salvation, that we are justified on the basis of Your finished work on the Cross. Thank You that, right now, we are under the completely sufficient imputed righteousness of Christ. Because we have placed our trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ, we are redeemed by Your precious blood. The threat of failure, judgment, and condemnation has been removed. Knowing that God’s love for us and approval of us will never be determined by our performance is the most encouraging promise to which we cling. We love You, Lord. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

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Look up – Meditate on Matthew 11:28 ... Pray to see what it reveals about the character of God.

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Look in – Meditate on Matthew 11:28 ... Pray to see how you might apply it to your life. Be propelled to ask galvanizing questions about your discoveries: “Because God is ______________, I will ______________.”

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Look out – Meditate on Matthew 11:28 ... Pray to see how you might apply it to your relationships with others. Let the nature of God impact on every relationship, for your good, and for His glory.