The heart of God  

Throughout this short bible plan, we’ve been looking at how God changes our hearts. 

You see, Jesus went to the cross so that we could be with Him where He is to receive His glory. That’s how much He wants to have a heart connection with us. 

For that heart connection to happen, our heart has to change. And when our hearts turn away – and how often they turn away – we need to turn back to Jesus.

The problem is it’s so hard to do that in our strength. Our hearts become harden and obstinate. And we think to ourselves, “How can I change my life so that I’m not like that anymore?” 

But here’s the good news. We don’t have to do the changing. God’s going to do that. 

All we have to do is to take the first step of turning back to God. Check out 2 Kings 22:19, and you’ll see what happens when we do. 

OK, here it is (spoiler!). When we turn back to Him, God hears us, God sees us, God acts for us. 

He will forgive us when we humble ourselves before Him. 

King David understood that when he prayed in Psalm 51:10 (ERV):

“God, create a pure heart in me, and make my spirit strong again.”

Does David go to God and say, “God, I stuffed up. God, I committed adultery, I murdered a man, and I know I have to work hard to improve the way I live, and I promise you, God, I’m going to do better from now on, I’m going to try harder”?

No! He confesses his sin, yes. But David knows he has to change – and he knows that he can’t do it by himself.

So instead of promising God that he’d try harder, he asks God for the one thing that is going to change him:

“God, create a pure heart in me, and make my spirit strong again.”

He knows that he needs the power of God to change his heart. And so, that’s exactly what he asks God.

My friend, there are so many people trying to turn their lives around. There are so many people trying harder and harder to please God. It doesn’t work! The “work harder” strategy inevitably fails because only God has the power to change.

So cast yourself on that power. Let God change your heart.

Life application questions

• Have you fallen into the trap of trying harder to please God? Have you seen others you care about fall into this same thinking? What was the result?
• What can you learn from King David’s example? 
• Examine your own life, your own heart. Are there changes that need to be made – changes that you can’t possibly make on your own?

Why don’t you pray this prayer with me right now in your heart?

Father God,

I’ve just heard from you today. Your word is so clear in my heart, clear as a bell. I know that I can’t heal my heart on my own, but I can let You move me by Your Word, and right here and now, I want to say I was wrong. I’m sorry. And this day, this moment, I turn back to You. I know I’m forgiven through the sacrifice Jesus made for me on the cross. Come, oh God, and heal my heart. In Jesus’ name, I pray.