INVITING GOD=INTO YOUR HEART

 

INVITING GOD=INTO YOUR HEART

 

Today we have=a story

About Paul=and his companions

ARRIVING in Philippi=a Roman city

 

Lydia=A WORSHIPER of God

Listens to Paul and then=INVITES THEM

Into her home

 

We may NOT be able=To INVITE Jesus

Or his apostles

Into our homes=but we CERTAINLY CAN

INVITE them=into our hearts

INVITING GOD=INTO OUR HEARTS

 

“On the sabbath=we went

Outside the city gate…….where we thought

There might be=a place of prayer

 

We sat and spoke=to the women

Who had gathered there

 

ONE of them=a woman named Lydia

A worshiper of God…….listened

And the Lord=OPENED HER HEART

To pay attention=to what Paul was saying

 

After she and her household

Had been baptized=she offered us=AN INVITATION

‘IF you consider me=A BELIEVER=in the Lord

Come and STAY at my home’”                                                                                                 Acts 16:13-15

 

So pay attention=DAILY

To the WORD of God=listen and PRAY

You never know=who and what=God may be using

To FILTER into your head=open your heart

INVITING God=INTO YOU HEART

 

Lydia=was ONE=of Paul’s

FIRST Christian converts=how pleased

Paul must have been=when SHE INVITED THEM

 

To stay at her home=and CONTINUE

PREACHING the Word of God

INVITING God=Inviting Jesus=INTO OUR HEART

 

“For I was hungry=and you gave me

Something to eat=I was thirsty

And you gave me=something to drink

I was a stranger=and you=INVITED ME IN”                                                                          Matthew 25:35

 

“If an unbeliever=INVITES YOU

To a meal=and you want to go=

 

Eat whatever=is put before you=without raising

Questions of conscience”                                                                                                  1 Corinthians 10:27

 

Dear Lord=we pray

That like Lydia=YOU OPEN OUR HEARTS

To whatever message

You want us to hear

 

Lord=we live in

SUCH A DIVISIVE WORLD

With so much hatred

 

ENCOURAGE US=with your love

To always INVITE YOU=and other BELIEVERS

Of love=into our hearts

INVITING GOD=INTO OUR HEARTS!

 

“Trust in him=at all times

You people=POUR OUT YOUR HEARTS

To him=for God is our refuge”                                                                                                  Psalm 62:8

 

INVITING=the GOD of love=INTO OUR HEARTS

And all other loving BELIEVERS

Of God and Christ

 

In Jesus’ name=and in the name=of our FOREVER ENCOURAGING=forever inviting

Holy Father God!

 

Robert P. Wallman

5-04-2023

 

Ps        INSPIRED=by an article IN LIVING FAITH MAGAZINE=by Patricia Livingston