Crusty or Not
"Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." (Psalm
95:7-8,
Hebrews 4:7)
The snow had been piling up by the sidewalks in town for months.
Huge mounds of it as tall as a small child. Topside, it was sooty from the
traffic. On the edge, it looked clean where it was starting to melt off. I could
not resist sticking my boot in, to see if it was as soft as it looked. Yes, it
was light as a feather. The top was crusty, though, and in some parts icy.
Amazing that moisture can surround dust particles in the air, and we have
beautiful, intricate snowflakes, and then a picturesque blanketing of snow. As
my toe dipped into the snowpile, I thought how like that snowbank I’d been at
times.
God creates us in His image, with soft hearts; merciful, loving, generous, kind.
How in the world had my heart gotten so hard sometimes? "In the world", the
answer.
There is an answer to 'hardening of the heart'. If we keep our focus on adverse
circumstances in our lives, our hearts are more likely to become hardened. Even
crusty sometimes. Like day-old bread. Times like these if we keep our eyes on
Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, our hearts are more likely to
remain more similar to His.
Lord, thank You for Your presence, and I ask Holy Spirit to pour out grace for
me to purpose and decision to keep my eyes on you, Today, no matter what things
look like on the surface. Guard my heart to keep it soft rather than crusty. In
Jesus' name, Amen.
Inspirational messages by Sally I. Kennedy
Sally I. Kennedy, ©2011