Stop Being Stubborn

 The longer we live the more we get set in our ways. We find our own ways of doing things, and we stick with them, even when we are shown that we are not doing things the best way. We believe the things that we want to believe. Then, when someone shows us that what we are believing is not right, we still don't want to change our belief.  I suppose there is an element of pride in our stubbornness. We really think we know what is best to believe and do without getting help from others.

The Israelites were a very stubborn people. Even though God chose them to be His people because of His love for them, they would not listen to Him very well, because of their stubbornness. This caused them all kinds of trouble. (Deuteronomy 10:16) Therefore, God told them to change their hearts and to stop being stubborn. If God told them to do that, it was possible. As humans, we can decide to stop being stubborn. If we will do that, it will help us a great deal.

The opposite of being stubborn is to be moldable or open to listen to correction from others. It is actually being open to new ideas and ways to do things, if those ways are better than what we had been thinking and doing. As believers, we must always be open to what God is trying to teach us in His Word or in our experiences of life. If we are stubborn, we miss so many blessings, and we can't really be close to the Lord. He loves us, and He wants to keep teaching us more and more, so we can grow closer and closer to Him.

As I have said, we all have control over our own heart. We have the free will to change at any time. I know it is hard when we are set in our ways, but it is the wise thing to do. It is what will open up the abundant life for us. We must decide to do whatever it takes to stop being stubborn. We must open our hearts to God's will and God's ways. Then, as He teaches us, we need to apply ourselves to adapt what we believe and what we do. Then, we will experience the fullness of life as God designed it to be.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Deuteronomy 12-14.