Hearts are moved

Is there something that moves your heart?

For some of us it may be watching a powerful movie or listening to beautiful music.

For others it may be taking some time in nature or finding something remarkable in another person.

Some people will be touched by the actions of an innocent child or left feeling heart-sore by loneliness of an elderly friend.

Whatever the case may be, I believe that we are all created with the ability for our hearts to be moved. God's spirit works in ways that are dynamic and life-giving. And what is more, God doesn't always operate according to our agenda either.

Take opening verses of Ezra as an example:

"In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing:² “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says:“‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.

³ Any of his people among you may go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem, and may their God be with them. ....⁵ Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites—everyone whose heart God had moved—prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem." - Ezra 1

Do you see how God can move the hearts of even an unbelieving king, as well as the priests and Levites?

How open are you to the move of God's spirit in your heart?

Living in Grace

D3LM3

God be

As we hover at the half way mark of 2019, I thought I would offer us a few prayers to reflect on and use in our daily devotions. None of these are my own, but have been used and passed down for generations. May you find these prayers insightful and inspiring over the next couple of days.

"God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and at my departing."

These words were found in the Book of Hours in 1514. Despite being 500 years old, they are still a great way to pray.

Living in Grace
D3LM3