Heart Strangely Warmed

“Lord, I am no longer my own, but Yours. Put me to what You will, rank me with whom You will. Let be employed by You or laid aside for You, exalted for You or brought low by You. Let me have all things, let me have nothing, I freely and heartily yield all things to Your pleasure and disposal. And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are mine and I am Yours. So be it. Amen.” - John Wesley

John Wesley significantly influenced the Methodists movement. Early in his career, he wrestled deeply with his standing before God and questioned whether he was truly in a right relationship with the Lord.

On May 24, 281 years ago, his questions vanished. His journal records:

"In the evening, I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death."

Wesley experienced the truth that Paul shared with the Ephesians. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Like Wesley, does your relationship with God need transforming? Have you received it by grace, through faith, in Christ alone? Accept God’s gift and enjoy the new life only he provides.