How can we avoid being "slow of heart" in our faith journey today? Recognizing the Phrase “Slow of Heart” Luke 24:25: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!’” • “Slow of heart” is not about mental IQ; it’s a spiritual lethargy—a reluctance to embrace God’s plainly revealed truth. • Jesus links slowness to unbelief, not lack of information. The problem is moral and volitional, not intellectual. Why We Drift into Slowness • Distraction: Constant noise drowns out God’s voice (Mark 4:18-19). • Doubt: Questioning God’s integrity after disappointments (Genesis 3:1). • Delay: Knowing what Scripture says but postponing obedience (James 4:17). • Dependence on feelings: Letting emotion, not revelation, steer decisions (Jeremiah 17:9). Practical Ways to Keep a Responsive Heart 1. Saturate Your Mind with Scripture • Romans 10:17: “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” • Daily, unhurried reading keeps truth fresh and authoritative. • Memorize key passages; recall them when tempted to second-guess God. 2. Cultivate Immediate Obedience • James 1:22: “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” • Act on the first prompting; delayed obedience hardens the heart. 3. Engage in Honest Self-Examination • Hebrews 3:12-13: “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a wicked heart of unbelief… But encourage one another daily… so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” • Ask trusted believers to speak into blind spots; welcome correction. 4. Guard the Intake of Your Soul • Proverbs 4:23: “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” • Limit media that feeds cynicism or sensuality; choose inputs that build faith. 5. Keep the Cross Central • 1 Corinthians 2:2: “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” • Remembering Christ’s finished work fuels gratitude and confidence in God’s promises. 6. Practice Regular Thanksgiving • Psalm 103:2: “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” • Grateful rehearsal of God’s faithfulness dissolves sluggish unbelief. 7. Live in Dependent Prayer • Philippians 4:6-7: bring every concern to God; His peace keeps the heart responsive. • Prayer aligns will with truth, softening resistance to God’s leading. Encouraging One Another on the Journey • Hebrews 10:24-25 urges believers to meet regularly and “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.” • Joining a small group, sharing testimonies, and worshiping together lightens burdens and counters spiritual inertia. Looking Forward with Hope • 1 Peter 1:13: “Therefore prepare your minds for action, be sober-minded; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” • A future-oriented hope energizes present faithfulness, keeping hearts quick to believe and obey. |
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