Praying for fullness of joy...

You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Ps. 16:11

Many years ago, while I was in seminary, I had a friend who shared my passion for seeing the lost come to know Jesus.  We were talking about what we did when someone embraces Jesus by faith.  I shared that I would get them immediately into a bible study and a discipleship group.  In the tradition of fundamentalism in which I had started my Christian journey, knowing scripture and being in an accountability and growth relationship was key.

My friend shared that while he thought that was interesting, but he did not do this.  Instead, he taught them how to pray because he figured if they learned how to pray, they would learn how to walk with God.

For years I have thought about this conversation and its implications.  I do not believe there is anything wrong with bible study and discipleship groups.  In fact, I still encourage them.  Yet, I think my method of encouraging a new believer to grow was a bit short-sighted.  

Why?

I had a mistaken belief that if I changed a person's mind, it would transform them.  

Experience has taught me that this is not always true.  In fact, transformation through changing one's mind often does not bring about lasting and deep change.

You see, there is a vast and categorically different experience 

between knowing about God and knowing God.  

Knowing about God can bring a sort of intellectual satisfaction.  Yet, unless it leads to knowing God it does not lead to the fullness of joy found in the path of life.  Knowing about God apart from experiencing the presence of God through fellowship with Him will grow stale.  It leaves us with the knowledge that we should know better, but it does not have the power to change our heart that actually directs our whole being.

In other words, over the long run, the heart will not serve the mind.  

The heart must be transformed by the grace of God.

A heart transformed brings fullness of life now and eternal life forevermore.  Knowing God transforms the heart.  In so doing, it will activate the mind and demands that the mind come to know more about the God whose presence brings fullness of joy.  After heart transformation, the mind serves the transformed heart.

What are the marks of a transformed heart?

Joy, pleasure, contentment, peace, love, and grace.  You will not just know the definition of these words, but you will taste and know them in your heart.  They are found when God pours out His grace into our hearts.  They are enjoyed we we walk in repentant faith.  Such grace does transform your mind, your actions, and your life.

How do we do this?  Let's finish this week by asking God for His Spirit to transform us by grace.  Ask Him to lead you into deeper repentance and trusting faith.  Ask Him to bring joy, pleasure, contentment, peace, love and grace.