Having an open heart to receive Jesus is the first step to faith. A heart that is open to Jesus is like good soil for the seeds of the Gospel. As people, we can either harden our hearts or have an open heart to receive Jesus and be guided by the Holy Spirit. Our response to the Holy Spirit can either lead to blessing or tragedy. The Bible tells us the Lord opens our hearts, but with our free will, we can choose to say no and walk away from God.
Paul tells us that God opens Lydia’s heart. Acts 16:14 One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying.[1] If you believe in Jesus, you responded to the Lord’s call to come to Him, which is a blessing.
The Samaritans Had Open Hearts to Receiving Jesus
One of the most notable moves of the Holy Spirit as the church began to grow was in the region of Samaria. Acts 8:14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that the people of Samaria had accepted God’s message, they sent Peter and John there. 15 As soon as they arrived, they prayed for these new believers to receive the Holy Spirit. 16 The Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them, for they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John laid their hands upon these believers, and they received the Holy Spirit. [2] When the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit, their lives would never be the same in this world or eternity. The same is true for anyone today!
The Lord Longs to be With You
Our Lord longs to speak to you through His word and the Holy Spirit, to guide you, and pour out His unconditional love on you. Although it is beautiful to come and worship on Sundays, the Lord wants to be with you each day of the week. Our Lord is the God of every moment of our lives. He longs to spend time with you, including all eternity. His desire for you is to live a life that is fully committed to Him and bears life-giving fruit.
The key is we need to abide in Him. Jesus says in John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.[3] As you go about your day, pray your heart will be open to Jesus. Pray and ask the Lord if there are any walls you have built that need to come down. Also, pray for wisdom so lies from the enemy which block God’s fullness can be easily discerned. May the Lord touch you with His Holy Spirit that will especially touch your heart so you can feel His amazing presence.
To learn about having an open heart to receive Jesus, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/empowered-near
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.