Has the Lord opened your heart?

Acts 16:11-15 NLT

We boarded a boat at Troas and sailed straight across to the island of Samothrace, and the next day we landed at Neapolis. From there we reached Philippi, a major city of that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there. One of them was Lydia from Thyatira, a merchant of expensive purple cloth, who worshiped God. As she listened to us, the Lord opened her heart, and she accepted what Paul was saying. She was baptized along with other members of her household, and she asked us to be her guests. “If you agree that I am a true believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my home.” And she urged us until we agreed.

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The book of Acts is full of stories of how God changes lives. We can be confident that God is at work in the hearts of people he is preparing to hear the good news about Jesus. Paul was going about his business looking for people who might listen to the gospel. So Paul went where people might be praying.
Lydia wondered about God. She worshiped God but did not know about Jesus. Praying and worshiping were a good start but without Jesus it wasn't enough. God rewarded her seeking with the truth. God sent Paul.

There's a lot to be learned from this story.  Firstly, this is God's work. He opens hearts. Secondly, I think we'll find people ready for the gospel if we look for those already seeking. Third, seeking is good, worshiping God is good, but God intends for people to hear about Jesus. God wants people to accept the good news about Jesus. Third, Lydia not only accepted this good news but she acted on it. Lydia was baptized.  God opened her heart, so she opened her home. She brought the gospel and the messengers into her home and business and those she had influence over also believed.

The whole reproductive nature of the good news is seen here from God sending the messenger, to God opening her heart,  to completely identifying herself in baptism, to Lydia opening her home and seeing others believe too.

Please be encouraged.