Hard

I have not done a lot of projects with concrete before, but I’ve done enough to know that when it gets hard, it’s very strong and set in its space. I’ve also had fun playing with playdough with my grands. We have made all sorts of stuff and if we put the playdough back in the airtight container, we can shape into something another day. I think the Lord wants my heart to be more like playdough than concrete. I have some convictions and beliefs about the Lord and His Word that are clearly set in concrete – they are not movable or negotiable. There are many other ideas and concepts that the Lord is still working on and shaping inside my heart.

Paul finally makes it to Rome where he will stand trial before Caesar. He invites the local Jewish leaders to share the story of Jesus with them. He explained to them that Jesus was the Messiah who had come and how the world was to be forever different because of Jesus. Check this out…

²⁴ Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe. ²⁵ And after they had argued back and forth among themselves, they left with this final word from Paul: “The Holy Spirit was right when he said to your ancestors through Isaiah the prophet,

²⁶ ‘Go and say to this people:
When you hear what I say,
    you will not understand.
When you see what I do,
    you will not comprehend.
²⁷ For the hearts of these people are hardened,
    and their ears cannot hear,
    and they have closed their eyes—
so their eyes cannot see,
    and their ears cannot hear,
    and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
    and let me heal them.’ (Acts 28:24-27 NLT – reference Isaiah 6:9-10)

I want my ears to hear clearly.

I want my eyes to see clearly.

I want my heart to understand.

As I open the Word of God, I must have a soft and shapeable heart. I must listen carefully. I must look intently. I must listen and see with my soul.  I’m still learning about the Lord every day. I’m still growing deeper in my faith as I look and listen. I want Him to continue to shape my heart and deepen my faith as I walk with Him today and every day.

Pressing On!

Dwayne