March 29 -- "A Hardened Heart"

 Today's Reading:  Exodus 8

"A Hardened Heart"

Today’s verse comes after the second plague, in which God turns the Nile River into blood. After this plague, Pharaoh appears to soften his stance and agrees to release the Israelites. However, when the plague is lifted, Pharaoh changes his mind – i.e. hardens his heart - and refuses to release them.

The application of this verse teaches us about the dangers of a hardened heart. Pharaoh was unwilling to listen to reason and change his behavior, even after witnessing the power of God through the plagues. Similarly, we can become so set in our ways and beliefs that we are unwilling to listen to God and others or consider different perspectives. This can lead to conflict, division, defeat, and other consequences.

There are several ways in which one can harden their heart, which means becoming stubborn or resistant to God's will or the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Here are a few examples: 

Refusing to listen to God's Word - One way to harden your heart is to neglect the reading and study of God's Word, the Bible. By failing to listen to God's Word, you can become insensitive to His voice and less likely to obey His commands.

Persisting in sin - Continuously indulging in sinful behavior can lead to a hardened heart. The more you sin, the easier it becomes to ignore your conscience and resist God's call to repentance.

Bitterness and unforgiveness - Holding onto bitterness and unforgiveness towards others can also harden your heart. By nursing grudges and refusing to forgive, you can become bitter and resentful, making it difficult to receive God's love and grace.

Pride and self-reliance - Pride can lead to a hardened heart by making you resistant to God's guidance and unwilling to submit to His will. By relying solely on your own strength and wisdom, you can become blind to God's leading and resistant to His correction.

Indifference and apathy - Being indifferent to spiritual matters and failing to seek God can also lead to a hardened heart. By neglecting your relationship with God and failing to cultivate a spirit of humility and openness, you can become indifferent to His voice and resistant to His call.

In summary, there are several ways in which one can harden their heart. It is so important to remain vigilant and guard against these tendencies by seeking God's guidance, repenting of sin, forgiving others, cultivating humility, and remaining open to His leading.