Soften my heart Lord by Aije Barnes Oct 1 Issue 1 Vol 3

(Hebrews 4:7 NIV)

'God again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” 

It is so easy to harden our hearts to what God is saying when things in our lives do not seem favourable. During such times, we tend to focus more on the circumstances or distractions than on God's word. 

This is clearly depicted in the parable Jesus gave of the sower and his seeds. Here it is below:

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”....then from verse 18, Jesus continued by saying: 

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23 NIV)

No one says it better than our Lord Himself!

Before verse 18, from verse 14 to 15, Jesus said of the people for whose sake he spoke in parables at the time: 

In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “ ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' (Matthew 13:14-15 NIV)

This was so that the scriptures might be fulfilled concerning them in the fulfilment of the purpose for which Jesus came - which was to died for our sins. 

Now to us Jesus says in verse 16:

 ’But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear'. (Matthew 13:16 NIV)

But as you can see, there is a bit more we need to do for us to receive our healing. It is found in the last few words of verse 15 "understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.'

We need to understand with our hearts and turn. Then we will receive our healing. 

How do we understand? 

The scripture says:

'The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.' (Psalms 119:130 NKJV)

When we hear God's word, we need to allow it enter our hearts and impact our lives. But you may say 'I don't understand it all'

Again the scripture says:

'Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. (2 Timothy 2:7 NIV)

Again, you may say but how? The scripture says:

'Then he (Jesus) opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. (Luke 24:45 NIV)

Once we have understood the scriptures it is now left for us to turn (or change direction in obedience to him). This is something we need to do ourselves but can only happen by the softening of our hearts. 

When we hear his voice in the mist of all the chaos in life, let us not harden our hearts to His word. 

Let us not be like that fig tree in Matt 21 verse 18-19. 

Let us respond to His word in understanding and let us bear much fruit. 

Soften our hearts Lord.