How can we avoid becoming "stiff-necked" in our relationship with God today? Setting the Scene “Now do not be stiff-necked like your fathers. Submit to the LORD and come to His sanctuary, which He has consecrated forever. Serve the LORD your God, so that His fierce anger will turn away from you.” (2 Chronicles 30:8) What “Stiff-Necked” Means • An agricultural picture: an ox refusing to bow its neck to the yoke. • Spiritually: a heart that resists God’s guidance, correction, or commands (Acts 7:51). • Symptoms today: defensiveness, selective obedience, ritual without relationship, and an unteachable spirit. Keys to a Responsive Heart Today • Submit early and gladly – Make obedience the default, not the last resort (John 14:15). • Keep short accounts with sin – Confess quickly; let nothing calcify (1 John 1:9). • Treasure God’s Word – Daily intake keeps the heart soft (Psalm 119:11). • Cultivate humility – Remember Who is God and who is not (James 4:6–7). • Stay amazed by grace – Gratitude melts stubbornness (Romans 12:1). Daily Practices That Keep the Neck Flexible • Morning surrender: verbally yield your plans to the Lord before the day begins. • Scripture aloud: read a passage audibly; hearing reinforces submission (Romans 10:17). • Prompt repentance: the moment conviction comes, stop and turn. • Accountability: invite a trusted believer to speak truth where blind spots lurk (Hebrews 3:13). • Serving others: regular acts of self-denial train the will to bend (Mark 10:45). Scripture Reinforcements • Deuteronomy 10:16 – “Circumcise your hearts, and stiffen your necks no more.” • Psalm 95:7-8 – “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” • Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trusting rather than leaning on our own understanding keeps us pliable. • Hebrews 3:12-15 – Encouraging one another daily guards against a hardened heart. • James 1:22 – “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” A Final Encouragement Stiff-necked living is never inevitable. By choosing daily surrender, eager obedience, and humble fellowship with the Lord, we keep our hearts supple and our relationship with Him vibrant. |
    |