King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: A Change of Heart
Date: Friday March 23, 2012
Today's Chapters: 1 Samuel 8-10

Hello My Friend,

An amazing thing happens to a child of God even before they say amen as they bowed our head to ask Jesus to save them, God changes their heart. By accepting Christ and trusting only in Him, we are no longer trusting in our deeds or behavior to get us to heaven, we are trusting only in our Savior, Jesus Christ. How we grow and flourish with this change of heart has to do with our relationship with God. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17-21.

Samuel had been judging Israel for quite some time now, he is getting old and decides to give his two sons some of the responsibility. However, these two sons fell into corruption when their lust of money and power caused all kinds of problems for Israel. That's when the elders got together, went to Samuel, and demanded that he give them a king. “Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.” - 1 Samuel 8:4-9.

Since God is the Almighty God and true King over all the world, we have the tendency to forget that God created us in His own image. Therefore, all the things that we feel, God feels them too. So, when Israel was demanding a king, God took it as their rejecting Him. Ever have someone turn you down? It doesn't feel so good. Well, God feels the same way when we seek other means for help over Him. Now, God does not want us to sit in a corner, pray all day long and expect things to change just like that, although He can do that, He wants us more than just time with us in prayer, He wants to be apart of our lives. In every area of our lives, from work, to marriage, to family, and even hobbies, God wants to be involved. When we have a change of heart and allow God to be in every area of our lives He will lead us down a much greater path than we ever expected. “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,” - Ephesians 1:17-19.

God tells Samuel who will be captain over His inheritance, He sends Samuel to meet Saul, Saul was a young, very tall, man, a Benjamite, who did not think much of himself, remember, the Benjamites were few in number because of the civil war between them and the rest of the tribes. However, God saw something in him that no one saw, not even Saul himself, a godly, faithful, honest, hard working king. After meeting with Saul and God instructed, Samuel took a vial of oil and anointed Saul as king and when he did something amazing happened. God gave Saul His Spirit. “Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?.. After that thou shalt come to the hill of God, where is the garrison of the Philistines: and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with a psaltery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them; and they shall prophesy: And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. And let it be, when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee; for God is with thee.” - I Samuel 10:1,5-7.

Saul received the power of God in him the day he got anointed, he was no longer the same man, he became a new man, a new creature. This is a great illustration of God anointing the believer with the blood of Christ when they ask Jesus to save them. The second we say we believe that Jesus Christ is the only one who can take us to heaven we receive God's Spirit in us. We are no longer the same person, we are new and when we allow Christ to live in and through us we literally transform into a different person, but the key is to let God transform you into the person He wants you to be. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” - Romans 12:1-3.

Today's Psalm: 19:14 - “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Today's Proverb: 16:1 - “The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.”

Today's Prayer: God, We need to regularly examine our hearts to see if there are things, pursuits, or attitudes that are drawing us away from You and pulling us once again into the world. Our heart’s examinations are not intended to condemn us, or judge us, but to revive our spirit and remind us of our godly inheritance. Lord, since You know my heart better than I do, reveal to me anything that hardens my heart in letting You be my King. I know that You will not hover over me, but will walk alongside me, assuring me of Your unwavering love, Your endless mercy and grace, and You will open my heart completely to let You rule every area of my life. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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