The Bible tells us that sin hardens the heart (Eph. 4:17-19).

“this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. “

Frank & I were recently talking about church growth and implementing programs to try to attract groups that aren’t regular attenders.  I brought up the question that if you can attract people to church because of a new program how big of a part does their interest in spiritual things play when it comes to them staying in the church.  In other words, will they stay if they have no interest in God.  I quickly answered my own question… the church is already full of people who are not interested in God.  They like socializing and saying they are members here or there, or they do enjoy the programs and the fellowship.  There are many members that are just as ungodly as the world, and likely as lost.  So we all would recognize this….people would agree wholeheartedly.  So why don’t we see more members saved?  
I guess maybe they’ve been this way so long, they don’t realize they need Christ.  Maybe they think they are saved.  In essence, sin has hardened their hearts. 
I pray that I will not be hardened by my own sin, and will daily run to the cross for God’s cleansing forgiveness.   

Last year I read a wonderful book, Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life by Donald Whitney.  It was such a wake up call for me in many ways.  I realized that practicing  spiritual disciplines is not something that will just happen.  It’s not something I need to pray for and expect God to grant.   Of course, I should pray for God’s help, but overall the motto ”Let go and let God”  is very deceptive and not at all applicable to the sanctification process.  That process is work! 

1 Tim 4:7 says “Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” 
I was recently lamenting that I am not consistently doing my devotion and Bible study each morning as I’d like.  I also have gotten slack in other areas of my spiritual life.  The remedy is mostly a matter of disciplining myself!  I pray that God will continue to convict for not keeping fellowship with Him a priority and that the Holy Spirit will help me in the task of being consistent and not succumbing to the weak flesh. 
My responsibility though, is to take steps to actively make this happen.   Get up earlier.  Read the Bible before I do anything else.  Read, pray and journal after Lydia goes to sleep.  Make a check list.  Ask Frank to help hold me accountable in these things.

Self-examination…a lost discipline

I am currently reading The Enemy Within, a great book that discusses our sin nature.  I think frequently we do tend to blame Satan or the world for sin that is rooted in ourselves.  I think overlooking our own sin nature is a possible reason for lack of self-examination in our lives.
II Corinthians 13:5 :  Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith;  examine yourselves!  Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you– unless indeed you fail the test?
Paul tells us in this text to examine our lives… to give ourselves a thorough checkup.  Why?  To make sure we are “in the faith,” to make sure we are Christians.  If we are not growing in Christlikeness, than we are drawing further from Him.  Beyond that, if there is no awareness of Christ’s power and presence, or no desire to grow in Him and have victory over our sin, we need to seriously question if we are Christians.  
Examining our lives means to search for hidden sin or pet sins  (II Cor 11).   Once these sins are discovered, they much be repented of (seek and destroy!). 
Frequent examinations will result in:  discovering the sins that lurk deep within, so we can repent and take steps to remove whatever the sin is from our lives, and growing in Christlikeness (as we shed sin, we don holiness).

Practical application for my life!
I have two big areas to work on.  1) My tongue.  2) Pride.
The first area has seen vast improvement over the last couple of years.  Unfortunately, I still have not mastered this area. 
The second area is interesting.  I know I have a pride issue…fear of man…worrying and focusing on what people think.  God has definitely been dealing with me in this area….