4:19 – Change of President, Change of Heart?

#faithbites #faithjourney president

Setting

At noon on January 20, the United States will inaugurate its 46th President. For many this ushers in feelings of hope, prosperity and change. For others, it’s fear, loss, uneasiness, confusion, and dread. Some expect everything to change after the oath of office is taken for the better or for the worse. As someone once told me, you can’t legislate morality nor can you executive action peace.

This #faithbites isn’t about the President, new congress, or anything political. Instead it’s about each of us as human beings. A change to our leadership won’t and shouldn’t change us as people. A taking of an oath, won’t make our hearts fuller of love and compassion. That change can only happen through Jesus and working to be more like him.

How are you going to change your heart? Are you waiting for an external force or will you make it your goal to be a better human?

Scripture

• Ezekiel 36:26 – And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
• Psalm 51:10 – Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
• Romans 10:10 – For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Reflection

When we accept Christ, we become a new creation in him (2 Corinthians 5:17). God gives us a new heart, a new life, and new responsiblities. It is up to us to love him, love our neighbors, and treat others as we wish to be treated. We can’t expect a new president to change the hearts of others or our own heart. We can’t expect the country to change overnight.

What we can expect is that only through God, through love, and through a lot of self work can we change our heart. With our hearts changed, then we can share love and kindness which can change the hearts of others.

If changing leadership changed everyone’s hearts, that would be easy, but it’s not. Actions speak louder than words and the emotions behind those actions even louder.

While a changing of the president won’t change you, you can use it to make a time when you made an active pledge to God asking him to forgive you of your sins and help you to be more loving, gentler, and kinder. It is only through God, through hard work, and forgiveness that we can change our hearts and help to change the hearts of others.

Are you willing to make that pledge?

Prayer

Father God, we pray for our nation as we transition from one administration to another. Lord, be with our leaders, our first responders, and everyone involved in making this a smooth transition to a better future for everyone. Lord, help us remember that a change in leadership can’t change our hearts. That only through you, prayer, and commitment can serve as you showed us through Jesus.

Finally, Lord, please forgive us our sins. Help us to be just, kind, merciful, patient, and loving to all. We don’t have the answers and know that you do. We ask you to protect us, protect our nation, and help us change our hearts. In your name, Amen.