The Heart Changer - Chapter 4

Okay, I cheated.........sort of. I did read Chapter 3 in Idols of the Heart, but haven't done the study questions yet, nor studied it in depth, meaning I haven't looked up the Scriptures. I read Chapter 4 this morning instead, and what a powerful chapter it was.

The focus of the chapter is that it's the Holy Spirit who changes our hearts. Here is one paragraph from the chapter:

"When we fail to believe the truth about who Jesus is and miss the impact of His astounding work in suffering and dying for our sin, it will be impossible to resist the allurement of the gods of this earth as they whisper their promised pleasures to us."

There are so many things that compete for our attention, that compete with our putting God first in our lives. If we could only grasp what Christ did on the cross for us, and the riches we have in Him, what a difference that would make in our lives. It would be so much easier not to give in, and yield to whatever stronghold, or bad habit that we struggle with. We look at the pleasures of this world and they do their best to entice, and allure us. The problem is, they don't satisfy, nor can they because we can only be fulfilled, and satisfied through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Psalm 81:16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.

Psalm 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Psalm 91:16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.

May we, as Elyse Fitzpatrick says in the title of the Idols of the Heart book, learn to long for God alone. He alone can satisfy us.