Have you ever been described as “stubborn” or “hard to get through”? You know that I certainly have!

As a kid I was called “stubborn” because I wanted to do things myself and I did not listen very well. As an adult, I find that I am “hard to get through” because I’m pretty sure that I am always right!

The real danger in security of one’s self is that at some point it boils over into your spiritual life and repeated resistance to God could produce an inability to respond to Him in the future, or what the Bible describes as a hardened heart. Spiritual hardening typically begins with self-sufficiency and self-satisfaction, but leads to refusing to listen to God, which leads to a loss of spiritual hearing, and failing to respond, which means you listen to God with no intention of obeying.

To prevent having a spiritual hardening of the heart, be aware of the deceitfulness of self-sufficiency, stay in fellowship with other believers and encourage each other with love and concern.

Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT) “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”

God promised to restore Israel not only physically, but spiritually. To accomplish this, He would give them a new heart for following Him and put His Spirit within them to transform them and empower them to do His will.

God gave us His Son and offers us a fresh start. You too can receive a new heart for God and have His Spirit within you if you accept and take Christ on in baptism.