1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,120 Speaker 1: Teach Us to Pray is brought to you by Life 2 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: Audio and is a part of our Faith Toolkit series. 3 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: For more inspirational faith affirming podcasts, visit lifeaudio dot com. 4 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 2: Welcome back, friend. You are listening to the Teach Us 5 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 2: to Pray podcast, where we teach believers practical and real 6 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 2: life tips on how to grow your faith and relationship 7 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:28,760 Speaker 2: with God through the power of prayer. I'm Christina Patterson, 8 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:31,280 Speaker 2: host of the Teach Us to Pray podcast and founder 9 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 2: of Beloved Women, where I encourage, equip and empower women 10 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 2: and the love of Jesus Christ and the truth of 11 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 2: God's Word. You know, many times we associate hardness with strength. Hardness, 12 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:48,520 Speaker 2: like a rock, is thought to be unmovable, unbreakable, until 13 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:52,760 Speaker 2: well it's not. Our hearts were not designed to be hard, 14 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 2: but flexible, so that we may be moved by God. 15 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 2: A hard heart is one that is unwilling to be 16 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 2: moved or changed by God. But Proverbs twenty one, verse 17 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 2: one says the king's heart is like a stream of water, 18 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 2: directed by the Lord. He guides it wherever he pleases. 19 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 2: When something is hard, instead of bending, it will break. 20 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:34,679 Speaker 2: Its hardness then becomes its greatest weakness, the hardness of 21 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 2: it actually makes it more susceptible to destruction. So God 22 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:43,319 Speaker 2: does not want our hearts to be hard, but he 23 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 2: wants us to have hearts that are able to be 24 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 2: moved by him. To have a hard heart is to 25 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,560 Speaker 2: be in a position where we are opposed to God, 26 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: resistant of his ways, and closed off to his love. 27 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:02,600 Speaker 2: Many times when we have a hard heart, we feel 28 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 2: like we're protecting ourselves, but really we're blocking ourselves from 29 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 2: receiving God's healing, wholeness and love. So in today's episode, 30 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,680 Speaker 2: I want to talk about how we can pray against 31 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 2: a hard heart. The first thing we can pray for 32 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:25,919 Speaker 2: to make sure that our hearts do not become hard 33 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 2: is humility. Pride causes us to ultimately trust ourselves and 34 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 2: not God, and when we don't trust God, we are 35 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 2: not going to be inclined to allow him to move 36 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 2: our hearts and lead our lives. Matthew twenty three twelve 37 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 2: says whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles 38 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: himself will be exalted. Inhumility, we're able to receive what 39 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:57,920 Speaker 2: it is that God has for us. We don't have 40 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:00,240 Speaker 2: to be puffed up and try to control the things 41 00:03:00,240 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 2: and try to show who we are and how strong 42 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:06,520 Speaker 2: we are. We allow God to do that for us. 43 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 2: So praying for humility is a key component in praying 44 00:03:11,360 --> 00:03:16,360 Speaker 2: against a heart. Next, it is important to pray for 45 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 2: an understanding heart if we don't want to have a 46 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:25,880 Speaker 2: hard heart. We see Jesus address a hard heart in 47 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 2: Mark chapter eight, verses fourteen through twenty. While on a 48 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:33,440 Speaker 2: boat with his disciples. Jesus is using the example of 49 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 2: unliving bread to share a lesson with his disciples about 50 00:03:37,320 --> 00:03:41,440 Speaker 2: sensibility to spread that they may be watchful and not 51 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 2: end up like the Pharisees who were so focused on 52 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:48,680 Speaker 2: religion and not a sincere relationship with God. Instead of 53 00:03:48,800 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 2: hearing and understanding what Jesus was trying to teach them, 54 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 2: they worried about forgetting to bring bread on the boat. 55 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 2: Now you have to realize that Jesus had previously turned 56 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:04,200 Speaker 2: a few loaves of bread into many to feed thousands. 57 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 2: So not only are the disciples not hearing the teaching 58 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 2: Jesus desires to share with them, they are worried about 59 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 2: something that Jesus has already proven he can take care 60 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 2: of Jesus, then ask why are you discussing the fact 61 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 2: that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive 62 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:26,200 Speaker 2: or understand? Are your hearts hardened? Having eyes do you 63 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,600 Speaker 2: not see? And having ears do you not hear? And 64 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 2: do you not remember? The disciples misunderstanding of not only 65 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 2: the teaching of Jesus, but also who he was to 66 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 2: them hardened their hearts. When we don't have a grasp 67 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 2: of who God is and his ability to impact our lives, 68 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:47,720 Speaker 2: our hearts become hard. The way that we can overcome 69 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 2: this is to pray for understanding of God's word and 70 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 2: understanding of who He truly is in our lives. The 71 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 2: third way that we can pray against a hard heart 72 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 2: is to pray for repentance. You know, King David was 73 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 2: considered a man after God's own heart, Yet the scriptures 74 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:11,280 Speaker 2: are very open and truthful about the many ways that 75 00:05:11,480 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 2: he fell short. He was an adulterer, a murderer, He 76 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:19,600 Speaker 2: was prideful, and had many scandals within his own household. 77 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:24,560 Speaker 2: David was far from perfect, but he acknowledged it and 78 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 2: he repented of it. The prophet Nathan confronted David in 79 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 2: Second Samuel chapter twelve about his adultery and murder. When 80 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 2: this happened, David had a few options of how he 81 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:39,159 Speaker 2: could have responded. He could have made up excuses that 82 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:41,359 Speaker 2: he was the king and could do whatever he wanted 83 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 2: to do. He could have told Nathan to take his 84 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 2: negativity somewhere else and that he didn't want to hear that. 85 00:05:47,320 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 2: But instead of using his power to justify his sin, 86 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:55,880 Speaker 2: David repents before God because he recognized that although he 87 00:05:56,040 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 2: was king, God was still greater, and ultimately David answered 88 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 2: to God. Romans two five gives this warning, but because 89 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:08,720 Speaker 2: of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up 90 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:11,760 Speaker 2: wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when 91 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:17,200 Speaker 2: his righteous judgment will be revealed. Listen, no one is perfect. 92 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 2: But when we make excuses for our sin, instead of 93 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 2: acknowledging God's better way, we harden our hearts to living 94 00:06:25,320 --> 00:06:29,919 Speaker 2: God's way. So we must pray prayers of repentance continually 95 00:06:30,200 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 2: to make sure that our hearts stay soft to God. Next, 96 00:06:33,960 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 2: we can pray against a hard heart when we pray 97 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 2: for a compassionate heart. A hard heart is one that 98 00:06:41,640 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 2: is not responsive to the needs of others. When we 99 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:48,360 Speaker 2: are unable to sympathize with others, we usually judge them 100 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,599 Speaker 2: and forget that we too are susceptible to any sin, hardship, 101 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 2: or suffering. First John three seventeen tells us, but if 102 00:06:56,400 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 2: anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, 103 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:04,159 Speaker 2: yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love 104 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:09,000 Speaker 2: abide in him? The cure for an unsympathetic heart is 105 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,239 Speaker 2: to remember that we all fall short, and that any 106 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:16,680 Speaker 2: good that we experience or accomplish is from God alone. 107 00:07:16,760 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 2: We are not entitled to a good life, but if 108 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 2: we have one, it's because God has allowed it. When 109 00:07:23,280 --> 00:07:26,120 Speaker 2: we take this view, it's easier to respond to the 110 00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 2: needs of others. We can then pray for God to 111 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 2: give us compassion to others when we realize that all 112 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:36,760 Speaker 2: the good we have is truly from Him and not ourselves. 113 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 2: The last way that we can pray against a hard 114 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 2: heart is to pray for a forgiving heart. The dangerous 115 00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 2: thing about unforgiveness and resentment is that it does more 116 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,040 Speaker 2: harm to us than the person we are holding those 117 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 2: negative feelings against. James one point twenty tells us, for 118 00:07:53,360 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 2: the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 119 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 2: It's important that we all get to a place where 120 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 2: where our peace is more important than our feelings and 121 00:08:03,560 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 2: desire to be angry and bitter. We have to trust 122 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 2: God to bring about justice in his time the way 123 00:08:10,160 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 2: that he sees fit, and realize that the situations that 124 00:08:14,360 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 2: bring up unforgiveness in our hearts, as bad as they 125 00:08:17,520 --> 00:08:20,600 Speaker 2: may feel at the time, are not worth taking our 126 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:25,320 Speaker 2: peace hostage or hindering our relationship with God. Sometimes we 127 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 2: hold on to bitterness and unforgiveness to protect ourselves from 128 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:33,960 Speaker 2: more hurt. But unfortunately, in blocking out the perceived bad 129 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 2: that may or may not happen, we harden our hearts 130 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:39,320 Speaker 2: to block out the good that God wants to bring 131 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 2: into our lives. A soft heart is not a weak heart, 132 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 2: which is why the Bible speaks against having a hard heart. Listen, 133 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,440 Speaker 2: I get it. We live in a petri dish for 134 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 2: growing hard hearts, but we don't have to let it 135 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 2: harden ours. Ezekiel thirty six twenty six tells us, and 136 00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 2: I will give you a new heart and a new 137 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,840 Speaker 2: spirit I will put within you. I will remove the 138 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 2: heart of stone from your flesh and give you a 139 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 2: heart of flesh. If you find yourself with a hard 140 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 2: heart today, it will be important for you to continue 141 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 2: to pray for humility, understanding, repentance, compassion, and forgiveness. And 142 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:26,520 Speaker 2: we can do some knowing that when we pray to God, 143 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 2: he hears us, and He has the power to grant 144 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 2: us the strength that only He can provide to soften 145 00:09:34,320 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 2: our hearten hearts. It is my hope that today's episode 146 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 2: has provided you with insightful and helpful tips on how 147 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 2: you can pray. We have so much more to talk 148 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 2: about when it comes to prayer, so I hope that 149 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 2: if you were encouraged by today's episode, you'll share it 150 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:52,319 Speaker 2: with a friend and subscribe so you don't miss any 151 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 2: future episodes of the Teachers to Pray podcast, where we 152 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,640 Speaker 2: will continue to learn how, just like breathing, prayer can 153 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:02,080 Speaker 2: become a natural, consistent, and life giving part of our 154 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:04,840 Speaker 2: everyday lives. Until then, be sure to connect with me 155 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,440 Speaker 2: at Beloved Women dot org and check out the show 156 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 2: notes to download my free five day prayer guide. Thank 157 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:12,920 Speaker 2: you so much for taking time to listen today. God 158 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:23,640 Speaker 2: bless you and I'll talk to you in the next episode. 159 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:26,960 Speaker 1: Teach Us to Pray is a production of Life Audio 160 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: and the Salem Web Network. If you enjoyed this episode, 161 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: would you take a minute and leave us a review 162 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:37,000 Speaker 1: in your podcast app? It really does help more people 163 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 1: like you find the podcast. To hear more from Christina Patterson, 164 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:44,600 Speaker 1: be sure to check out her fantastic site, beloved Women 165 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: dot org. A special thanks to Kelly Gibbons, Steven Sanders, 166 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 1: and Stephen McGarvey for their production and editing on this episode. 167 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 1: You can find more podcasts like this over at lifeaudio 168 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: dot com.