the gifts of the holy spirit cannot be bought

AOC Network is getting ready to release another documentary. This time, about repentance. I watched the trailer below this morning and I'm really looking forward to watching the full video in the new year. Thank Jerren!

On a personal note, I woke up at 1:00am last night with a heavy heart about the relationships I've lost since becoming a follower of Christ, so I spent a few hours in my prayer closet speaking to the LORD and reading His word (there's something really special about meeting with God in the secret place at night).

Every day, I'm learning new details about the LORD's character and His righteous and I'm amazed at how He always seems to bring together the specific information I need to hear to help me understand His Will for my life at just the right moment in time. 

The LORD instructed me to read Jeremiah 4:14 last night,in response to my prayers  for my unsaved friends and family. The verse says this:

"Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved.
How long will you harbor wicked thoughts?"

And then this morning, the first video in my newsfeed was about Simon the Sorcerer who was an unrepented believer with an unclean heart.

We all get things wrong and it's common to bring our old ways of thinking into our new relationship with Christ, but when another person brings your sin to light - your response to that Truth is very telling about the condition of your heart. 

I've come to understand that the issue is not whether God can change my family and friends, but whether they want to change.

Will they let go of what has served them in the past (money, power, authority, deceit)?

Will they commit themselves to the grace of a good God and allow the Spirit to change the intentions of their hearts?

I suppose only time will tell, but I will continue to pray for their souls and their salvation until the LORD finally plucks me from this fallen world and takes me home,

Praise God. 🙏​