Hard Head – Hard Heart

I’ve been called “hard headed” before by my parents, my wife and others who know me. I do feel like I’m a reasonable person for the most part. If I feel strongly that my position on a certain subject is correct, I have been known to “dig in” and defend my position. I think the word stubborn is related to hard headed. This word means, “dogged determination not to change ones attitude or position on something, especially in spite of good arguments to do so”. I’ve met people who thrive on being hard headed. I don’t think I fit that definition of “hard headed”, but I do have strong convictions and I’m not afraid to stand for something I believe in. I don’t want to be hard headed for the sake of being hard headed.

The Lord was speaking through the prophet Ezekiel to His people. He gave Ezekiel a heads up that they were being hard headed. Check this out…

4 He then said to me: ‘Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them. 5 You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and strange language, but to the people of Israel – 6 not to many peoples of obscure speech and strange language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you because they are not willing to listen to me, for all the Israelites are hardened and obstinate. 8 But I will make you as unyielding and hardened as they are. 9 I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint. Do not be afraid of them or terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.’ (Ezekiel 3:4-9 NIV)

I’ve always been told to use my head to guard my heart. There are times when I a hard head will make my heart hard. To me that is an all-together different issue. I want my heart to shapeable and moldable by the Lord. If my heart gets hard then He can’t do His work in me. I really believe that I should be in pursuit of God’s heart with my heart. I also believe that as I pursue the Lord with my whole heart that my head will not be obstinate and stubborn, but obedient and strong. I want to let my heart direct my head. I want to live my life out of a heart devoted to the Lord completely. I believe His Word cultivates my heart and helps growth to take place. I want to have a soft heart and teachable spirit that the Lord can use daily.

Pressing On!

Dwayne