The human heart expands and contracts to circulate blood through the body. When the heart contracts, it pushes blood out to the extremities. When it expands, the heart fills up with incoming blood. There’s a rare physical condition, however, that stiffens the heart muscle. This less-flexible state means that the organ can’t expand to take in the proper amount of blood—a physical hardening of the heart.
This condition can occur spiritually as well. Paul spotted it in some of the people who came to listen to him speak about Jesus. When some religious leaders came to see him, he explained that “the hope of Israel—the Messiah—[had] already come” (Acts 28:20).
They discussed this radical idea. Some believed what he said, but others didn’t. Paul quoted a passage from Isaiah that contained these words: “The hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes” (Acts 28:27).
Spiritually speaking, a hard heart is an insensitive and unbelieving heart. According to Bible scholar Stan Norman, “Hardness of heart can be a refusal to hear the Word of God, or it can be a refusal to submit and obey the will of God.” So it’s possible for us to suffer deeply from the effects of our own spiritual stubbornness.
At times we may face God with arms crossed and hands balled into fists. We reject His grace and patience. But the Bible says that God’s kindness is intended to turn us from our sin (Romans 2:4). He’s the only One who can lovingly perform the “transplant surgery” we need—removing a stony, stubborn heart and replacing it with a tender, responsive heart that longs to follow Him (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 20:1-18
More:
Look up Ephesians 4:17-24 to see the contrast between hardheartedness and Spirit-led living.
Next:
How can we avoid being spiritually stubborn and unresponsive to God? How might humility guard us against the hardening of our hearts?
youssef1777 on September 28, 2016 at 12:45 am
IF WE HAVE A HEART LIKE OUR LORD . WE WILL SEE THE PEOPLE SAME AS HE . . WE HAVE TO KEEP IN OUR MIND . IN OUR REAL HOME . WE WILL HAVE A NEW BODY . NO PAIN,SICKNESS OR WEAKNESS . LOVE ALL LIKE HE LOVE US . GOD BLESS ALL .
sandy229 on September 28, 2016 at 10:41 am
Yes, that is so true yousef1777! God Bless you and Shalom.
godlove on September 28, 2016 at 4:35 am
I think the answer is found in the Next section: humility. It was probably the pride of the religious leaders who couldn’t (or didn’t want to) take a religious lesson from Paul which caused most of them to reject his message. It takes humility to avoid being spiritually unresponsive to GOD, that is admitting to ourselves that we can’t do or understand anything with our limited human minds and accepting to let the Holy Spirit lead us according to the Will of God. Thank you for this thought provoking piece today, Jennifer. Blessed day to all; with love.
sandy229 on September 28, 2016 at 10:42 am
Yes godlove, I so agree with you on this.
Shalom
Gary Shultz on September 28, 2016 at 6:23 am
Jennifer, it is difficult if one has known God, to be hard hearted very long. A hard heart is, as pointed out, an unhumble, rebellious heart. I don’t know how, but I do know who can soften hearts and I’m so glad God is patient with me as I have my moments. What a shame for one to consider their ways better and more conclusive than God ways and care. This is certainly another display of God’s love for us as He keeps extending that love toward each one in this world. What joy and delight to have a heart that beats after God and to know we are His. We also need to care for the heart of spiritual build as well as the physical one. A proper commitment to spiritual health, to guard our hearts and minds, will keep our spiritual heart in top condition. Thanks Jennifer, bless your heart.
gagirllive on September 28, 2016 at 7:43 am
The writer of Hebrews gives a stern warning to the church with these words, “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any one of you a wicked, unbelieving heart, leading you to turn away from the living God. But instead warn one another every day, as long as it is called ‘Today’, that none of you may be hardened into settled rebellion by the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3: 12-13) Jennifer, this warning puts the fear of God in me. I wonder how many of God’s children have moved into “settled rebellion”—areas of repeated disobedience that we have not repented of, and therefore, have become calloused and unresponsive to the Holy Spirit’s work in our hearts. I can’t help but think of my prodigal son as I read this devotional. One of the reasons it hurts so much is that as a young boy, he had such a tender heart for God. I have watched him over the years become more and more insensitive and unresponsive to God. He has moved into “settled rebellion”. BUT GOD…knows how to humble the proud and unbelieving heart. Praise God, He is more than able to tenderize the hardest of hearts to bow in repentance. As for us, may we be careful not to hinder the lifeblood of Christ from flowing freely in our hearts so that it is ever expanding. Thank you, Jennifer. A blessed day to all.
sandy229 on September 28, 2016 at 10:40 am
I feel the same way GAgirl about my son. He had such a tender heart for God when he was younger, and then later, he got to a point when he said he didn’t even believe in God anymore. He did acknowledge that there truly is a God when he planned his father’s memorial service along with his brother. At least he knew where to get help when he needed it most, however he still hasn’t returned to the fold. Hebrews really says a lot about this, and it’s scary. But I know there is more to the story because I had a long rebellious history too. I even blamed myself for Jeremiah being this way, but even though it may have had a lot to do with how I was, it’s not totally because of me. There comes a time when everyone has to take responsibility for their own actions and not play the blame game. Well anywho, enuf babble on my part. I will keep you and your son in my heart and prayers, and I do thank you for praying for mine.
Have a Shalom day! 🙂
gagirllive on September 28, 2016 at 11:44 am
Yes, I agree. And thank you for praying. I absolutely will pray for Jeremiah too! Shalom to you, Sandy!
sim jing ying on September 28, 2016 at 10:24 am
For the first question asked, we must pray to God continuously and do the devotion everyday. For the second question, we must confess any wrongs and that’s humility and that prevents the hardening of hearts.
sandy229 on September 28, 2016 at 10:55 am
Thank you Jennifer for another encouraging word for today. I always enjoy your devo’s. I know we should be renewed in our heart and mind, and not live as we did when we did evil things. We have to put off our old self and put on our new self, created in the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Because of the great love God has for us, He has cleansed us by the blood of Jesus, making us holy by His grace. We cannot earn His forgiveness, or become holy through our works. It is by grace through faith in Jesus that we are made righteous. However, God has created us to do good works, things He prepared in advance for us to do. So we should do the good things God gives us to do, for we know that we are only holy by His grace.
sandy229 on September 28, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Here is a good song for today….it keeps going through my mind so I thought I would share it. I just listened to it on youtube.
Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.
You are the potter, I am the clay,
Mold me and make me, this is what I pray.
Change my heart Oh God, make it ever true.
Change my heart Oh God, may I be like You.
youssef1777 on September 28, 2016 at 2:45 pm
PATIENT AND TRUST IN GOD . HAVE FAITH IN HIS PROMISE . HE GRANT YOUR WISH IN THE RIGHT TIME . KEEP READ IS WORD AND WAIT .
youssef1777 on September 28, 2016 at 2:54 pm
NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK . GOD LOVE YOU AS YOUR ARE . REMEMBER IN OUR REAL HOME WE WILL HAVE NEW BODY PERFECT AS OUR LORD .
youssef1777 on September 28, 2016 at 2:59 pm
ALWAYS GIVE TO GOD THANKS . AND BLESS HIS NAME FOR ANYTHING . HE GIVE TO YOU . YOU FAIL BETTER IN YOUR LIFE .
Tom Felten on September 28, 2016 at 3:40 pm
Jennifer, over the years I’ve seen in my own life (as well as in others) that a hard heart against God is chiseled in the workshop of rebellion. When I truly want something—even though the desire doesn’t honor Jesus or the Scriptures—a hardness of the heart forms as I give in to the desire. Praise God for the Holy Spirit who can open our eyes to the riches of Christ and the emptiness of seeking satisfaction and fulfillment and pleasures outside of His will!
gagirllive on September 28, 2016 at 3:47 pm
Amen, Tom! That’s what that Hebrews verse I referenced talks about—“settled rebellion”, which leads to a hardness of heart. Scary.
sandy229 on September 28, 2016 at 4:44 pm
Well I think we all have been there Tom. Praise God for the Holy Spirit who opens are eyes and points us in the right direction.
Shalom
sandy229 on September 28, 2016 at 4:47 pm
Sometimes I have read where God hardens someones heart to Glorify Him. Does this mean that that person was bad and has no hope? Can someone pls explain this.
gagirllive on September 28, 2016 at 5:09 pm
Sandy, I think of Pharaoh in this regard. God hardened his heart (and Pharaoh also hardened his own heart), and apparently for His glory. Romans 9: 17 helps us understand this better. “For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I have raised you up that I may show my power in you and that my name may be declared in all the Earth.'” Also, Ephesians 1:11 tells us that God works everything in conformity with the purpose of His will. We can get into quite a debate about whether the person has a choice in it all, but all I know is that God is sovereign, and while people freely do the evil that is in their hearts, somehow they end up carrying out the very will of God. Just look at Calvary. 🙂
sandy229 on September 28, 2016 at 5:42 pm
Thank you GAgirl. I get it now, He chose us in advance and makes everything work out according to His plan.