I prayed the other day for God to move the traffic in front of me. Shallow, I know, but I often pray for God to change my circumstances. My wife shared a wonderful devotional about this very topic with our team of Faculty Commons staff. She pointed out how we pray for God to set things right around us, when God actually desires to set things right in our hearts.

Samuel anointed Saul as the first king of Israel, a total shock to the young man. In an instant his circumstances radically changed. So unnerved, Saul even hid when his name was announced as the new king. But God came along. We’re told that after his anointing, God gave him another heart.

God did not change anything about the obstinate people of Israel. He did not weaken the Philistines, their fearsome enemies. Nor did he change Saul’s family or friends or hairstyle. Nothing changed—except for Saul’s heart.

While I often pray for my circumstances to change, I’m realizing that God is more interested in changing my heart. As my heart transforms I gain a new perspective on circumstances. God views my life through a timeless lens. He plays patiently, crafting my soul through various circumstances.

Do I still pray for the traffic in front of me to part like the Red Sea? Unfortunately, old habits are hard to break. But I’m hopeful the Lord will remind me in those moments the value of the new heart he’s forming. Heavy traffic is only one of his tools to make me a better man.

1 Samuel 10:9

Photo by Szabolcs Antal