- Hebrews 3:12-13 - Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
- Hebrews 3:14-15 - For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.
The hardening of the heart does not happen all at once. Often, this process begins with paying excessive attention to things of little spiritual value. As our focus drifts away from God, these preoccupations consume more and more of our time and thoughts. As a result, the things most important to the Lord are left on the sidelines of our lives.
As spiritual life weakens, habits such as prayer, worship, and close fellowship with God gradually diminish. When a person ceases to live in dependence on God, their heart turns inward toward self, and they lose their sensitivity to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
It is in such times that we become most vulnerable. When our focus shifts elsewhere and our hearts pull away from the Lord, we may begin to justify things we previously considered sin. The warnings of the Holy Spirit grow dim, and our resistance to temptation fades.
Scripture warns that even sincere believers can face the danger of this gradual hardening. But there is hope. A child of God does not lose their salvation, but they can lose close fellowship with the Lord and their spiritual joy. Through sincere repentance, prayer, and turning back to God, the heart can soften again. As we return to Him in worship and prayer, our sensitivity to the Holy Spirit is restored, and we experience the joy of walking closely with the Lord once more.
Reflection
Do you feel today that your heart is drifting away from the Lord? What spiritual habits do you need to restore in your life to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit more clearly?