How can we avoid being "obstinate" in our relationship with God today? Opening Verse “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:15) Understanding Obstinacy • Obstinacy is a heart that resists God’s voice—stubborn, unyielding, and self-reliant. • Scripture treats a hardened heart as spiritual danger, not personality quirk (Romans 2:5; Psalm 95:8). • The remedy is deliberate softness toward the Lord’s Word and Spirit. Signs of a Hardened Heart Today • Dismissing biblical commands that conflict with personal preference. • Delayed obedience—“I’ll get to it later.” • Cynicism toward worship, preaching, or accountability. • Habitual sin that no longer pricks the conscience. • Selective listening: valuing human opinion over God’s revealed truth. Steps to Cultivate Tenderness Toward God 1. Daily reverence – “Blessed is the man who is always reverent” (Proverbs 28:14). – Begin each day acknowledging God’s sovereignty, inviting His correction. 2. Prompt obedience – “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22). – Act on Scripture immediately; obedience reinforces softness. 3. Quick repentance – Confess sin at first notice. Delay allows calluses to form. – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us” (1 John 1:9). 4. Humility before the Word – “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:2). – Approach Bible reading expecting to submit, not debate. 5. Active love for Christ – “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me” (John 14:21). – Love expressed in obedience keeps the heart warm. 6. Regular self-examination – Ask, “Am I resisting anything God has shown me?” – Let Psalm 139:23-24 guide honest inventory. 7. God-centered community – Iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). – Welcome counsel that exposes blind spots. Scriptural Reinforcements • 1 Samuel 15:22—obedience over ritual. • Exodus 32:9—stiff-necked Israel as cautionary tale. • Hebrews 4:7—urgency of “Today.” • Romans 12:2—mind renewal combats stubborn patterns. Daily Application Ideas • Memorize Hebrews 3:15; quote it when tempted to rationalize disobedience. • Keep a journal titled “Today” to record each day’s specific acts of obedience. • Set phone reminders to pause and ask, “Is my heart soft toward God right now?” • End evenings with a brief review: Where did I sense resistance? Surrender it before sleep. Closing Thoughts God speaks “Today.” A tender, responsive heart receives His voice with glad obedience, avoiding the misery that comes from obstinacy. Keep the heart soft, and fellowship with Him stays rich and unhindered. |
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