Does God change our hearts before or after salvation?

[SummerDeAngelo]

Does the Lord change our hearts before or after we're saved? I came to Christ 2.5 years ago, thinking I was saved. I've been committed to reading the word and praying for hours each day ever since. But I don't feel my heart has changed, though I pray for it continuously. So, I've come to the conclusion that I'm not yet saved. Has anyone else had this experience or have any insight?

 

[Gardenias]

Hi Summer,
We come to Jesus in FAITH, faith is BELIEVING in something you cannot see.
By faith we believe that Jesus is God and became man and walked among us being tempted as we are.
By faith we believe that God as a man was put to death for the PENALTY of our sins that we would not be held accountable for,in believing.
He was buried,lay in the grave three days and rose again,a resurrected God,who now sits at the right hand of the Father!

I do not know the mind of God except what I find in his word!

Paul/ Saul was an Hebrew among Hebrews! He knew the law and precepts backwards and forwards. But.....when Jesus came to him he asked Saul,why do you kick against the pricks?

The Holy Spirit will prick or pierce our hearts about what we need to know and do,we just have to yield unto him.
Sometimes we try in our own flesh to hard to find what we are looking for.

I would say to you to just REST in the Lord. If you are his your relaxing will allow the Spirit to ease your concerns and if he is still waiting on your complete surrender,relaxing in him will allow him to give peace to your heart you are his.💜

 

[shittim]

Hi Summer, this is the best teacher I know of and this is a teaching on the renewing of the mind, so essential to our being conformed to the image of the Son which is our goal.
The renewing of the mind takes us from where we are, seeing the world though our own carnal eyes to where He would have us, seeing the world through His eyes and reacting as He would.
Paul speaks of this as well and how important it is.

 

[Runningman]

Does the Lord change our hearts before or after we're saved? I came to Christ 2.5 years ago, thinking I was saved. I've been committed to reading the word and praying for hours each day ever since. But I don't feel my heart has changed, though I pray for it continuously. So, I've come to the conclusion that I'm not yet saved. Has anyone else had this experience or have any insight?

Ephesians 1:13
“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,”

 

[shittim]

The requirement to have our minds renewed-
https://www.jglm.org/mind-renewal-essential-not-optional/

 

[SummerDeAngelo]

Hi Summer, this is the best teacher I know of and this is a teaching on the renewing of the mind, so essential to our being conformed to the image of the Son which is our goal.
The renewing of the mind takes us from where we are, seeing the world though our own carnal eyes to where He would have us, seeing the world through His eyes and reacting as He would.
Paul speaks of this as well and how important it is.

Thank you so much, shittim, I have the video up now and plan to watch it later. I look forward to it. Thanks again. 🤗

 

[SummerDeAngelo]

The requirement to have our minds renewed-
https://www.jglm.org/mind-renewal-essential-not-optional/

This is such a good article, shittim. It's a keeper, as I want to remember it. Thanks so much!

 

[shittim]

Thank you Summer, I was introduced to the ministry of John G. Lake ministries by a friend and upon taking in and acting on these teaching I saw immediate success in praying for healing and restoration, just by changing the way I prayed to the Biblical way they teach, his testimony is at 30 minutes of video number two.
bless you in Jesus name

 

[SummerDeAngelo]

Thank you Summer, I was introduced to the ministry of John G. Lake ministries by a friend and upon taking in and acting on these teaching I saw immediate success in praying for healing and restoration, just by changing the way I prayed to the Biblical way they teach, his testimony is at 30 minutes of video number two.
bless you in Jesus name

Thank you, shittim. I'm listening now and am half-way through. It's excellent. I look forward to number 2 also. I'm grateful for this and glad to know you saw such results upon acting on the teaching.

 

[shittim]

It's Bible, we have strayed from what bible teaches.
There are two services on Sunday, 9 for more mature Christians, worship, then the second service, they noticed that church services tend toward the lowest common denominator, thus the need for the early service/teaching for the more mature.
Here is another ministry that really was powerful for me, and I still enjoy him, John Wimber was a musician of some note, he was scheduled to go with the Beatles on their first U.S. tour when he accepted Christ and committed to Him, As he said, he realized if He was worth going with, He was worth going with all the way. This is the first of a series of the Signs and wonders conference in 1985, quite a while ago, same God, same desire to be in relationship with His own.
He tells his testimony with some humor, you will enjoy him, I am sure.
He was responsible for developing the Righteous Brothers.

 

[SummerDeAngelo]

Hi Summer,
We come to Jesus in FAITH, faith is BELIEVING in something you cannot see.
By faith we believe that Jesus is God and became man and walked among us being tempted as we are.
By faith we believe that God as a man was put to death for the PENALTY of our sins that we would not be held accountable for,in believing.
He was buried,lay in the grave three days and rose again,a resurrected God,who now sits at the right hand of the Father!

I do not know the mind of God except what I find in his word!

Paul/ Saul was an Hebrew among Hebrews! He knew the law and precepts backwards and forwards. But.....when Jesus came to him he asked Saul,why do you kick against the pricks?

The Holy Spirit will prick or pierce our hearts about what we need to know and do,we just have to yield unto him.
Sometimes we try in our own flesh to hard to find what we are looking for.

I would say to you to just REST in the Lord. If you are his your relaxing will allow the Spirit to ease your concerns and if he is still waiting on your complete surrender,relaxing in him will allow him to give peace to your heart you are his.💜

I appreciate your response, Gardenias. It's been on my mind. There's a lot of wisdom in what you said. I've been trying to figure out how to yield/submit to the Holy Spirit. I keep praying for help. Resting in the Lord is great advice. I hope to be able to. Thanks again. 🤗

 

[Deuteronomy]

Does the Lord change our hearts before or after we're saved? I came to Christ 2.5 years ago, thinking I was saved. I've been committed to reading the word and praying for hours each day ever since. But I don't feel my heart has changed, though I pray for it continuously. So, I've come to the conclusion that I'm not yet saved. Has anyone else had this experience or have any insight?

Hello Summer, you said that you don't "feel" that your heart has changed since you became a believer 2.5 years ago. If you don't mind me asking, what do you mean by that? IOW, what "feeling" (related to a changed heart) were you expecting to have as a Christian that has not happened for you yet

Also, what about some of the more practical kinds of changes in your life since you became a believer? Do you have any of those? For instance, you said that you spend time in the Bible and in prayer every day (which is a very good thing BTW ). That's brand new (within the last 2.5 years, yes)? Have there been any other noticeable changes in your life since you became a believer (how you treat/relate to others, how you act, speak and even think, who/what you think about, etc.), or do you live life pretty much like you did prior to the day that you became (or thought that you became) a believer

Thanks

God bless you!!

~Deut

Ezekiel 36​

26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.​

27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”​

​

 

[SummerDeAngelo]

Hello Summer, you said that you don't "feel" that your heart has changed since you became a believer 2.5 years ago. If you don't mind me asking, what do you mean by that? IOW, what "feeling" (related to a changed heart) were you expecting to have as a Christian that has not happened for you yet

Also, what about some of the more practical kinds of changes in your life since you became a believer? Do you have any of those? For instance, you said that you spend time in the Bible and in prayer every day (which is a very good thing BTW ). That's brand new (within the last 2.5 years, yes)? Have there been any other noticeable changes in your life since you became a believer (how you treat/relate to others, how you act, speak and even think, who/what you think about, etc.), or do you live life pretty much like you did prior to the day that you became (or thought that you became) a believer

Thanks

God bless you!!

~Deut

Ezekiel 36​

26 “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.​

27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”​

​

Thanks, Deuteronomy, for asking. I haven't missed a day in God's Word and praying since becoming a believer. I live differently now, as before I was into new age/occult beliefs. I don't watch secular movies or listen to secular music anymore (other than instrumental jazz).

The rest is somewhat embarrassing. What I've been the most frustrated with is a feeling of uncontrollable anger toward my neighbors, though I treat them well and do good for them. I haven't felt remorse or godly sorrow for my sins, though I hate them. I know my heart is still somewhat hard, but I feel the Lord is slowly working on it, I hope. I wish I could feel stronger love for the Lord, but I'm often lacking. Sorry, that's a lot for you to read.

 

[Gardenias]

Hi again Summer.
You are so very welcome.
Again remember sometimes the flesh takes time to be brought under subjection to the things of God but the plus is he is very long-suffering and patient towards us.. He ALWAYS fulfills his promises to us.
You seem to have a lot to overcome in the facts of your background but nothing is IMPOSSIBLE with and through him. We must have a clean slate for the Spirit to work with,therefore be sure that you have repented of all to him.
Salvation is a very big heart change but it is also a change of mind toward the things of God that you replaced with new age and occultive practices.
The word teaches us what to think on,things that are good,godly,full of love and hope. Instead of hate think the opposite ....love.
God is a spirit and we must worship in spirit and truth,be brutally honest and open with God,he knows everything about you anyway!
May he grant your desire to have a softened heart and allow you to covered in the warmth of his love!

 

[Gideon300]

Does the Lord change our hearts before or after we're saved? I came to Christ 2.5 years ago, thinking I was saved. I've been committed to reading the word and praying for hours each day ever since. But I don't feel my heart has changed, though I pray for it continuously. So, I've come to the conclusion that I'm not yet saved. Has anyone else had this experience or have any insight?

Feelings are totally unreliable. Many "Christians" have had an emotional experience that they think is salvation. I was one of them, at a Billy Graham crusade. I was not saved, I just "felt" something. It was 5 years later that I was born again.

Being born again is an act of your will in accepting Christ as Saviour and Lord. Read the gospel of John. You will find nothing about feelings. Start thanking Lord Jesus for dying for your sins and rising again to give you new life. Thank Him for causing you to be born again. Base your faith on God's facts. You will find that feelings will follow as you declare the truth. It may take a little while, but God loves you and He sees the intent of your heart. The thief on the cross had not read John 3:16 but Jesus saved him anyway.

 

[SummerDeAngelo]

Hi again Summer.
You are so very welcome.
Again remember sometimes the flesh takes time to be brought under subjection to the things of God but the plus is he is very long-suffering and patient towards us.. He ALWAYS fulfills his promises to us.
You seem to have a lot to overcome in the facts of your background but nothing is IMPOSSIBLE with and through him. We must have a clean slate for the Spirit to work with,therefore be sure that you have repented of all to him.
Salvation is a very big heart change but it is also a change of mind toward the things of God that you replaced with new age and occultive practices.
The word teaches us what to think on,things that are good,godly,full of love and hope. Instead of hate think the opposite ....love.
God is a spirit and we must worship in spirit and truth,be brutally honest and open with God,he knows everything about you anyway!
May he grant your desire to have a softened heart and allow you to covered in the warmth of his love!

Thank you, Gardenias. This is beautiful and so encouraging. I appreciate you and for sharing your wisdom and knowledge of the word.

 

[SummerDeAngelo]

Feelings are totally unreliable. Many "Christians" have had an emotional experience that they think is salvation. I was one of them, at a Billy Graham crusade. I was not saved, I just "felt" something. It was 5 years later that I was born again.

Being born again is an act of your will in accepting Christ as Saviour and Lord. Read the gospel of John. You will find nothing about feelings. Start thanking Lord Jesus for dying for your sins and rising again to give you new life. Thank Him for causing you to be born again. Base your faith on God's facts. You will find that feelings will follow as you declare the truth. It may take a little while, but God loves you, and He sees the intent of your heart. The thief on the cross had not read John 3:16, but Jesus saved him anyway.

This is great advice, Gideon300. I'll give it some serious thought, and I'll surely use what you've said. I'm just starting John's Gospel again. I'll keep a look-out for the lack of mentioning feelings. Thanks again!

 

[Gardenias]

Summer!
I would soooooo like to give you a real hug in real life!
I believe you are very open and honest about your life.

I love ppl,especially the young ones who seem not to be set in their ways!

Since I can't in RL this is best I can do!

 

[shittim]

That counts, Gardenias, and is very kind of you.

 

[SummerDeAngelo]

Summer!
I would soooooo like to give you a real hug in real life!
I believe you are very open and honest about your life.

I love ppl,especially the young ones who seem not to be set in their ways!

Since I can't in RL this is best I can do!

Awww, you're the sweetest, Gardenias. Thanks for the virtual hug. I wish I could give you a big hug as well.🤗 Thank you, so much for your kindness. 💚💙💛💜❤️