A Hardened Heart

Posted on November 9, 2022 by Elizabeth Welte in Victory Call

Over and over in Scripture – there is a warning – do not harden your heart, do not harden your heart.

“Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness,” Psalm 95:8; Hebrews 3:8

The rebellion of which the author writes is the rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea when Moses sent 12 spies into the land. Ten returned telling of all the hurdles and hindrances and 2 returned with faith trusting God to be true to His word to give them the land.  The people responded with fear and did not enter the Promised Land for 38 more years.  They chose to believe what could be seen rather than believe the Word of God, which resulted in unbelief and disobedience – rebellion.

We don’t often think of ourselves as having hardened hearts but pause a moment and consider if there may be areas in your life where you have consistently chosen your way over God’s way.  You have been following that way so long you don’t even notice any more that you are disobeying.  I’m sure there are those of you out there that don’t know what I am talking about (you get a pass today), but there are those of you who know exactly what I’m talking about.  You are the ones I am speaking to today.

Perhaps you have slid into a passive walk. Today’s walk looks just like yesterday’s and will look just like tomorrow’s.  Coasting.  Decisions of faith are rare or non-existent.  This form of rebellion is oh, so much more subtle and more difficult to spot because, from the outside, things look fine.  But truth be told, the heart has grown ever-so-gradually hard.

Does this describe you?  It does me in some areas of my life.  I am not proud to admit that, but I want you to know I am much the same as many of you.  I struggle with sin. Too often I want my own way.  I too have to ask myself the hard questions. Have I hardened my heart in any area?
If you can identify with that of which I speak, there is hope because Jesus came that we may have hope.  Our wandering in the wilderness can be terminated by choosing to walk in faith, persevering every single day to believe.

“Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end…” Hebrews 3:12-14

Will you trust Him today?

 

Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.


Think About This: “No child of God sins to that degree as to make himself incapable of forgiveness.” – John Bunyan

The Daily Bible Reading: Jeremiah 51-52; Hebrews 6 You can download our 2022 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here. 

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “…in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:21-22

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