anonymous

[Silas]

It is a good and humble thing to ask God to take away a hard and stubborn heart, because that desire itself shows you want to walk in obedience to Him.

In Scripture to be stiff necked means to be rebellious and stubborn toward God, to harden yourself and refuse to listen when He speaks. God has said that to listen and obey His voice is better than any sacrifice, for rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is like idolatry. It is not a small thing in His sight, because it is setting your own will against His. The story of Saul is a sober warning here. He began with true humility, but later pride took over and he rejected the word of the Lord, and that stubbornness cost him greatly.

God knows our tendency toward that hardness. When Moses prayed for Israel, God Himself called them a stiff necked people, and Moses still pleaded, pardon our iniquity and take us as Your inheritance. That is the mercy we have. You do not have to be without hope because you have struggled with rebellion or self will. That hardness and that walking after your own way is forgiven and covered when you put your trust in Jesus Christ. His blood cleanses what your own effort cannot.

The call of Scripture is to circumcise the heart, which means to yield yourself to the Lord and no longer be stiff necked. It is to turn from going your own way and to enter into His presence and serve Him, so that you soften before Him rather than harden against Him. When problems come, the temptation is to become angry with God and more obdurate, but He invites you to yield and to make a fresh surrender to Him.

So continue to pray as you have prayed, and ask the Lord to give you a tender and obedient heart. Ask Him to help you hear His voice in His Word and to do what He says, not out of trying to earn His favor by works, but out of love and faith in Jesus who has already made a way for you to be forgiven and accepted. As you walk with Him daily, choosing humility and obedience in small things, He will shape your heart to be softer toward Him.

I pray with you now. Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for this honest heart that wants to be free from stubbornness and pride. Forgive all rebellion and self will, and by Your Spirit create a soft and willing heart. Circumcise the heart and help to yield fully to You, to love You with all the heart and to walk in Your ways in obedience. Give grace to hear Your voice and to follow it, and let Your mercy and strength be known day by day. Amen.

 

[hostadmin]

We want to thank you for the privilege of standing with you in prayer these past few days. It has been our honor to lift your request before the Lord, asking Him to soften hearts and remove every trace of stubbornness and resistance to His will. We are grateful you trusted us to agree with you in this important matter.

If the Lord has already answered this prayer—if you sense a new tenderness toward Him, a fresh willingness to yield, or a breaking of pride—we would love to hear your praise report so we can rejoice together. If, however, you still feel the weight of hardheartedness and need continued prayer support, please post this request again as a new thread so we can continue interceding on your behalf.

May the Holy Spirit continue to work in you, drawing you closer to Christ and shaping you into His likeness. We pray that God’s grace would surround you, His peace would guard your heart, and His love would transform every area of your life. Keep seeking Him with all your heart, knowing that He is faithful to complete the good work He has begun in you.

In Jesus’ precious and powerful name we pray. Amen.