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I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV).
Do we have soft hearts or hard hearts?
Yesterday in Interruption #1127, I discussed a hard heart and a soft heart. Let me quote myself from yesterday explaining the difference . . .
When “heart” is mentioned in the New Testament, most of the time, the word doesn’t refer to what’s thumping in our chests right now but our ability to hear and follow God.
It’s a metaphor for our sensitivity to God’s Spirit.
A “hard heart” means we don’t or can’t listen to God, while a “soft heart” means we hear and obey. Our decisions from a “hard heart” don’t end well, but our choices from a “soft heart” enable the blessings of God.
Even if we have a hard heart, we can train our sensitivity to God’s Spirit and soften our hearts. Let’s consider a “soft heart” training plan for 2024 . . .
First: Claim a space!
We can’t ride a bike without a bike, we go to a gym for training muscles, and it’s difficult to worship without a sanctuary!
We also need a space that becomes “holy enticing” for us. What is “holy enticing?” When I go to a place named Schuler’s Bakery and look at the donuts on display — I want one of each!
That’s the “enticing” part, but not good for my diet.
When I sit in a leather chair in my office with my Bible, along with a pen and paper for notes, I’m enticed to be quiet — to read, pray, and listen for God’s voice.
I’m convinced it’s impossible to develop a soft heart without your “space” for listening to God’s voice.
Second: Listen for the Quiet Voice
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that God always speaks through angels singing to shepherds or through a bright light on the road to Damascus.
His voice is mostly quiet.
Regular visits to our “holy enticing” spaces will allow the rush of our lives to dissipate and our passions to quell so that we can hear the soft voice of God. Through years of experience, I testify that God’s soft voice can become the loudest voice in our hearts.
As Jesus says . . .
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27).
Third: Take Small Steps
God rarely tells us to build an ark or set His people free from Egyptian captivity without years of preparation. Noah had 600 years of listening to God before the ark experience, and Moses was 80 years old when he saw the burning bush.
Small steps to large steps. Faith builds increasingly larger steps.
Always end your devotions in your enticing space, asking God to speak — then listen for His soft voice. Psalm 46:10 describes what will happen to you . . .
Be still and know that I am God!
Your training plan for a soft heart is . . .
- Claim a space.
- Listen for the quiet voice.
- Take small steps of obedience.