How can we ensure our hearts are not "hardened" as in Psalm 81:11? “But My people did not listen to My voice, and Israel would not obey Me.” Recognizing a Hardened Heart • Dullness toward God’s Word (Jeremiah 6:10) • Resistance to conviction (Acts 7:51) • Substituting idols or self-willed plans for the Lord (Psalm 81:9) • Chronic ingratitude despite God’s past deliverances (Romans 1:21) Core Safeguard—Listen and Obey • “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7-8; Hebrews 3:7-8). • Immediate obedience keeps the conscience tender (James 1:22-25). Daily Practices That Keep the Heart Tender • Consistent Scripture intake – Let the Word dwell richly (Colossians 3:16). – Read with the intent to respond, not merely to learn facts (John 13:17). • Quick, honest confession – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive” (1 John 1:9). – Unconfessed sin layers calluses over the heart (Psalm 32:3-5). • Cultivating gratitude – Offer thanks “in everything” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). – Remember past mercies (Deuteronomy 8:2). Gratitude softens the heart toward further obedience. • Guarding against idolatry – Anything treasured above God will slowly harden the affections (Matthew 6:21). – Regularly ask, “Is there any rival for my trust or delight?” (Psalm 139:23-24). • Pursuing humble dependence – “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). – Fasting, worship, and service remind us we are receivers, not self-sufficient. • Yielding to the Holy Spirit – Walk by the Spirit to avoid gratifying the flesh (Galatians 5:16). – Sensitivity to His promptings strengthens obedience reflexes (Romans 8:14). • Fellowship and mutual exhortation – “Encourage one another daily… so that none of you may be hardened” (Hebrews 3:12-13). – Transparent relationships provide warning lights when indifference starts to form. Encouraging Promises for a Soft Heart • God pledges, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). • “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18). • He “finishes what He starts” in every obedient believer (Philippians 1:6). Putting It All Together Stay in the Word, stay responsive, stay grateful, stay humble, stay connected—by these simple, Spirit-empowered habits the heart remains tender, teachable, and eager to obey, avoiding the tragedy described in Psalm 81:11. |
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