“The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.” Psalm 23:1(NLT)
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may
prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Rom.12:1-2
The most usual way God speaks to His children including you is through an inward
witness. “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,”
Romans 8:16. “Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous
because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, “Men, I perceive that this
voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship but also our
lives.” Acts 27:9-10. Sometimes this can be referred to as our conscience.
As a born-again child of God, your conscience can be a safe guide if it is renewed by the word of
God and you are sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Meditating on the word of God makes you
sensitive to the Spirit of God. The word of God is spirit and life. “It is the Spirit who gives
life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
John 6:63. Failure to meditate on the word of God leads to hardness of heart. “And he
went up unto them into the ship, and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in
themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the
loaves: for their heart was hardened.” Mark 6:51-52. “But Jesus, being aware of it, said to
them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor
understand? Is your heart still hardened? Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears,
do you not hear? And do you not remember?” Mark 8:17-18. “They refused to obey, And
they were not mindful of Your wonders That You did among them. But they hardened their
necks, And in their rebellion, They appointed a leader To return to their bondage. But
You are God, Ready to pardon, Gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, Abundant in
kindness, And did not forsake them.” Nehemiah 9:17. The above passages show that
failure to meditate (same as not being mindful) of God’s faithfulness (as shown in His
word) leads to hardness of heart. A hardened heart is a heart that is insensitive to the
Spirit of God. A heart can also become hardened by deliberate disobedience to or being
slow to act on the word of God. Such a heart will have a hard time receiving from the
Spirit of God. Not being quick to act on what you know the Spirit of God is telling you to
do can harden your heart to Him and make it difficult for Him to guide you. When you do
the opposite of the above your heart will become tender and sensitive to the Holy Spirit
and your conscience will be a safe guide.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
God will not bless you beyond your mental capacity for as a man thinks in his heart so he is.