HEBREWS 3:8

do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness

 TO PONDER

Times are tough, spiritually tough. The Christian virtues of humility and contentment are sometimes out of step with the culture we live in. Whether our culture makes it easier or harder to be a Christian, we are all challenged to soften our hearts so that the Holy Spirit may shape us to become like Jesus. But how soft is our heart? How open are we to the Spirit’s work? How easily do we accept the place God has for us in His world? How do we react when we are spiritually tested?  If we are honest, we will admit we are often like the Israelites who grumbled against God. After all, we are as human as they were. We need to continually take stock of our openness to God’s Spirit. The spiritual disciplines of prayer and meditation on Scripture will help prepare the soil of our hearts for God’s leading.

PRAYER: O Holy Spirit, make my heart warm, soft, pliable, and open to your work. Heal my spiritual hard-heartedness for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Today's devotion written by Francis Leung, LifeWay Epping.