Hardened Ground

Have you ever tried to dig a hole to plant something and found the ground so hard the shovel couldn’t penetrate it? Dirt can become like concrete after the sun bakes it for days and the weather has been dry. Hardened ground even resists moisture for a while.

Our hearts can become the same way. Most of us think of a hard hearted person as someone evil and without God. But we can all become insensitive to hearing the Holy Spirit in certain areas while allowing Him to speak to us about others. For example, we may be listening to His guidance about raising children, but resisting what He says about anger or gossip. In that way, we become hardened in those areas of our lives.

When Jesus came to the disciples walking on the water, they became fearful thinking they were seeing a ghost. When they saw it was Jesus, the disciples were amazed because He was walking on the sea. Mark 6:52 says, “for they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.” After seeing a miracle of the magnitude of multiplying loaves and fish they shouldn’t have been surprised at anything He did.  Their hearts were hardened against Jesus’s miracles because they were focused on the storm.

So, how can we make sure we have hearts willing to listen?

• Find out what where the focus is. Is the problem speaking louder than the solution? Find a scripture for what is needed and stand on it (Psalm 119:147).

• Keep priorities straight by putting God first (Matthew 6:33).

• Be willing to listen and be obedient (Isaiah 1:19).

• Seek God through prayer and fasting. Fasting disciplines our flesh so we are more sensitive to the spirit (Matthew 17:21).

Do you have something you would like to share that will help others?

(Detailed teaching in this area is available  at www.awmi.net  titled "Hardness of Heart,"  and www.creflodollarministries.org titled "Because of Your Unbelief,"part 3.)