A Changed Heart

1 Samuel 10:5-9

5 “After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, timbrels, pipes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. 6 The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. 7 Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.

8 “Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.” 9 As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.”

Saul was changed into a different person.  He was not changed physically, but he was changed spiritually.  God changed Saul’s heart.  

Jesus spoke often of the heart and the condition of our hearts.  The heart is the center of our spiritual lives, A basic tenet of our faith is that the Holy Spirit dwells within the heart of each believer.  The Holy Spirit works within each of us, leading us, guiding us, opening our eyes to God’s truth, and enabling us to hear God’s voice.  

But Saul, at some point, began listening to his own voice and not the voice of God.  This is the danger; that we begin believing that our thoughts are God’s thoughts.  To avoid this, We must remain open and vigilant to the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit.  

We do this through living a life of prayer, worship, study, service and sacrifice.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)