An adamant stone

Zechariah 7:12

Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts.

The Lord tried every means thinkable to reach the hearts of the children of Israel. He sent prophets, seers, and men of God to speak to them. He used captivity and destruction in the land to get their attention. But the amazing thing is, that for all that, they would not hear! They turned the back and not the face! They pulled away the shoulder. They were incorrigible, stubborn, unable to be commanded and led. But, as we look on this today, we can somewhat see a mirror of ourselves. Are we not often obstinate in our ways, unwilling to be bent and broken from that which we desire? May God deliver us from this! Let us not have hearts that are as an adamant stone. This is how the Lord described the hearts of His people. Their hearts were hard, unyielding, impenetrable. But what we truly need is a soft heart, one that is pliable, malleable, and moldable for the Lord.

How is your heart today, dear one? Can the Lord do all that He so desires to do in your heart? Is it receptive to His working? Can His hands mold and make you after His will? Is your heart flexible and tender toward Him? If so, keep that tender heart! Keep the heart soft to Him. He may then do the work He planned to do. If you are living in some hardness in any area of life, let us ask the Lord to bring a new yieldedness and softness to our heart, that He may work with us. And may this heart also be soft toward others! For a heart like an adamant stone refuses correction, suggestions, and advice. An adamant heart is stuck in its ways, obdurately moving ahead regardless of the cost to others. It refuses to stop and give in to others. It will not surrender! Now, I’m sure if you are reading this, you either have or desire a tender heart yourself. But dear friend, always keep that heart, and ask the Lord to give a heart of flesh to those who only have a heart of stone. Often, the Lord alone can melt the heart of stone. Only He can turn the temperature high enough to begin thawing through and breaking down the impervious and impermeable heart. Ask Him to work now in the lives of others, and keep your own heart fleshy, soft, and tender. For then, and only then, the Lord may always have His way!

“Lord, we confess that we do love to have things our own way. But, dear Lord, by Your grace, may You soften and tenderize each of our hearts, that Thy perfect and holy will may always be done in our hearts and in our lives. May those who have no susceptibility, receptiveness, or sensitivity to the Lord be melted down to a place of submission. Do Your work in them, and do Your work in us every single day, as we remain yielded to Thee. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”