Joel M Bradshaw

14Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.—Proverbs 28

Here are 7 times or seasons when my heart was more hard than soft. These are also times of hypocrisy I look back at.

1. When I fooled myself as I FACED temptation that God’s forgiveness of me was more important than my faithfulness to him.

2. When my bitterness kept sarcasm at hand rather than Godly speech.

3. When jealousy and envy encouraged me not to pray for someone.

4. When I had more responses like “yeah, but” than “yes, sir!” when it came to biblical counsel i had received.

5. When I forgave orhers based on my standards instead of God’s and his forgiveness of me.

6. When my depression was an excuse for situations and seasons.

7. When I cared more about what others thought of me than God.

Fearing God leads to repentance and trust. Turning from me and turning to Jesus. Getting over myself. Actually struggling with these rather than just calling them a struggle. Depending upon God for the strength to deny myself and to honor him. There is hope. But it starts with fearing God and facing yourself. Then turning to Jesus and trusting in him for your salvation. Then in humility moving forward by his grace.

Those were my 7. What are yours?–JMB