Author Darlene J. Conard

Lydia, who resided in the city of Thyatira, found herself in the midst of opportunity. According to the scriptures she already worshipped God. Acts 14 says, the Lord opened her heart to hear. She accepted all that Paul preached. She and her family were baptized. After reading the text the words, “whose heart the Lord opened,” lingered in my spirit. It was then I realized God absolutely does have the ability to open hearts. She worshipped Him giving Him an entry. He didn’t have knots to untangle. God simply pulled the tail of the bow causing it too effortlessly open. Acts 16:14-40

Pharoah’s stubbornness laid a snare before not only him, but all of Egypt.

… “the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had spoken unto Moses.” (Exodus 9:12 KJV) In this case God hardened the heart. Have you had the experience of knowing someone who had an encounter with God’s presence one day, but the next closed themselves completely shut? Your light bothers them. Being in the presence of God is noticeable. It challenges their perception of life as they know it.

 “As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.” (Proverbs 27:19 KJV) The heart is a reflector.

“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.” (1 John 3:17-20 KJV) Many times I’ve been tempted to harden my own heart. Before I became a Christian that’s how I protected myself. If I would harden my heart, I would be extinguishing Holy Ghost fire. Darkness would be in control just like Pharoah’s. I want to be like Lydia so that God can have complete access to every chamber of my being, nothing denied to Him. Unexplainable warmth envelopes me when I do not refrain from expressing compassion.

Our hearts can quickly become consumed by unwanted things; however, God is greater than our hearts. Yes, He can open hearts and make them soft.

… “I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.” (Ezekiel 11:19-20 KJV)

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