What actions can we take to ensure our hearts remain tender toward God? The Tender-Hearted King: 2 Kings 22:19 “Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke … I have heard you, declares the LORD.” Josiah’s softness toward God preserved both him and his generation. How can we cultivate that same tenderness? Receive God’s Word With Humility • Open the Bible expecting truth, not suggestions (Isaiah 66:2). • Let Scripture judge thoughts and attitudes before you judge the text (Hebrews 4:12). • Respond immediately—Josiah tore his robes; we repent and adjust our lives (James 1:22). Confess and Turn Quickly • Keep short accounts with God; daily confess sin (1 John 1:9). • Agree with God’s verdict instead of excusing yourself (Psalm 51:3-4,17). • Replace sin with obedience; Josiah removed idols, then restored true worship (2 Kings 23:4-25). Maintain a Teachable Spirit • Invite correction from mature believers (Proverbs 27:6). • Welcome the Spirit’s conviction rather than hardening your heart (Hebrews 3:15). • Memorize and meditate on verses that challenge comfortable areas (Psalm 119:11). Guard Your Inner Life • Watch what enters through eyes and ears (Proverbs 4:23). • Reduce distractions that dull spiritual sensitivity—endless media, toxic conversations, hurried schedules (Luke 21:34). • Schedule solitude with God; tenderness grows in quiet, not clutter (Mark 1:35). Choose Worship Over Worry • Sing truth-filled songs; music plows the soil of the heart (Colossians 3:16). • Thank God aloud for daily mercies; gratitude keeps the soul supple (1 Thessalonians 5:18). • Celebrate the Lord’s Supper regularly; remembering the cross keeps us soft (1 Corinthians 11:26-28). Serve People Intentionally • Meet practical needs; compassion stretches the heart (Matthew 25:40). • Forgive quickly; resentment calcifies tenderness (Ephesians 4:32). • Share the gospel; witnessing keeps us aware of grace (Philemon 6). Stay Dependent Through Prayer and Fasting • Pray “search me” prayers (Psalm 139:23-24). • Fast periodically; physical hunger reminds us of spiritual need (Matthew 6:16-18). • Intercede for others; carrying burdens softens self-focus (Galatians 6:2). Anchor in Hope of a New Heart • God promises, “I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). • Rely on the Spirit who daily renews and tenderizes (Titus 3:5). • Anticipate seeing Christ; that hope purifies (1 John 3:2-3). Tender hearts are not an accident; they are cultivated through humble, obedient, Spirit-dependent choices—just as Josiah showed us. |
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