A New Heart

For my eyes have seen your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all people- a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel. Luke 2:30-32

The above was spoken by an old man called Simeon who was a devout man and who was led by the Holy Spirit into the temple in Jerusalem the very moment Jesus' parents took Him to be dedicated.

Simeon had been promised He would see the Messiah and now he was holding Him.

The elderly are God's people and just as important as the young. Another old person was in the temple that day, a woman called Anna who had been married for 7 years and her husband died. She then chose to serve in the temple for the next 84 years. She must have been over 100, perhaps 117 (allowing that she had been married at 16).

These two old people had a heart for God. They had seen much and knew much was empty and vain and only one thing mattered, a relationship with a God who was not empty and vain.

Here in Australia, yesterday was Christmas Day. After having lunch with family I did not want to face more of the same for dinner just because that's what was happening. As I lay having a rest I thought:
'Who do I know who is despised and rejected and probably alone today?' I then thought of a woman I had met in the nursing home an aunt lives in. I went to visit and invited her to dinner. You might say I made her day. For an 81 year old she was skipping, walking on air.

Now this woman had annoyed me, severely, because she seemed to be always in my face when I visited my aunt, yet God chose her and with good reason. She has no family and is all alone.

When The Lord chose this lady for me to visit, He gave me a new heart towards her. His love replaced my annoyance and we had a lovely evening together. I doubt she even slept as she was so happy.

Be open to Him, allow Him to guide your heart! Amen!