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Italy. Photo by Charles F. Stanley.
Daily Devotion

Can We Change a Hardened Heart?

When we return to God in worship and prayer, we rediscover the joy only His presence brings.

Hebrews 3:12-19

A hardened heart doesn’t develop overnight. Often it begins when we become preoccupied with things of little spiritual value. Once our focus drifts from God, these distractions gradually consume more of our time and attention. Before we realize it, what matters most to the Lord has been crowded out.

As our spiritual life weakens, habits like genuine devotion and worship may fall away. When we function apart from God, our heart naturally becomes self-focused and less sensitive to His voice.

This is when we become most vulnerable. With our attention elsewhere and our heart growing distant, we can more easily rationalize choices we once would have recognized as sin. The Holy Spirit’s gentle promptings become muffled, and temptation grows stronger.

Scripture warns that even sincere believers are susceptible to this gradual hardening (v. 13). But we’re not without hope.  Through honest repentance and renewed devotion to God, our heart can be soft again. As we return to Him in worship and prayer, sensitivity to His Spirit is restored, and we rediscover the joy of walking closely with Him.

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