Preparing for the Charge
Hardened Hearts – Part 1

Scripture Reading:  Jeremiah 4:1-4

Key Verse: Jeremiah 4:3

This is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns.

God had watched His people develop hard hearts over a period of time.  Jeremiah the Prophet was God’s mouthpiece to speak to this condition.  Jeremiah used a common issue in their day: ground that lay uncultivated for too long.  When this situation occurred, the ground was hard and unreceptive to seed.  In their day it was hard physical labor to break up unplowed ground.

            God’s message being illustrated by Jeremiah was that God’s people’s hearts can lay unproductive too long.  God’s presence and work in us keeps us pliable and usable in His hands, but when we allow distractions of this world to replace God’s work, we can grow hard hearted.  Ezekiel spoke to the children of Israel about this condition as well.  God told Ezekiel that from His perspective, “they are stubborn and hard hearted people” (Ezekiel 2:4 NLT).

            If we allow this condition to develop in us, we must do some things to prepare for a recharging of our spiritual lives.  Jeremiah told the people to “put your detestable idols out of sight and no longer go astray” (verse 1).  Have you allowed some things to creep back into your life that you know are displeasing to the Lord?  Are there some habits that have formed that you are ashamed of?  Is there an unforgiving spirit in your heart against someone?  God can’t grow good seed among thorns!  (Continued)

Father, I want my heart to be tender and prepared to receive whatever “seed” you want to plant in me today.  Open my eyes to any hardened areas.  In Jesus’ name, amen.