YOU CAN KNOW HIM by HEART and be FREED from the SLAVERY of UNBELIEF.

"For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up. Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart." Jeremiah 24:6-l7

Israel will return wholeheartedly with a new, God given heart, to KNOW HIM.

For their own good, God had people carried away as slaves to Babylon, such as Daniel, and Ezekiel who probably didn't realize this was for their own good. As God works in our lives, we might think He has failed us because we don't see that future. We may look at the work of God in our lives as a sign that God doesn't love us or He has forsaken us. But God is working for our good. Hardships will cause righteous people to turn to God. Evil people only become more resolute in their evil it seems, as they experience God's judgments. They harden their heart, as did Pharaoh. But a person who is good in his heart, who may be straying, a hardship will cause him to turn to God. (taken from Pastor Chuck's footnotes page 999, Jeremiah 24)

God is knowable, yet His thoughts are not our thoughts, they are higher. THANK GOD!!!

Isaiah 55:8-9 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."

God of all grace, Heavenly Father, All mighty God, Everlasting Father of Jesus, Accomplisher of our Salvation, it is to You we come to form and inform this prayer. God, there are good hearted people who think You don't love them. They are pretty sure of this because of the hardships You have allowed in their lives. They have begun a heart-hardening process that sometimes comes out by cursing You, and doubting Your word. God would You cut through their pain and give them new hearts that will know You, love Your word and surrender all selfish, limiting fears to You for full blown faith, power and limitless "trusting joy"in You? Would You set them free from all past condemnations of self, of You and of Christ? Would You allow them to come to You fully ready to repent from those thoughts which are planted by evil itself and grown by evil if we feed and water them?  We can believe, focus upon and nourish these lies from hell, instead of pondering and believing the overpowering love from the cross. Let them know You've allowed them to wander in unbelief, but right now they can be certain of You, KNOW You, and be forgiven for each sin, doubt and faithless moments spent in unbelief. Please end their wander-lost, and touch them by Your Spirit. Amen.