For October 11th:

“…do not harden your heart…” Psalm 95:8

I had been having trouble relating to my husband the past few months.  Whenever we took the time to talk, it never seemed to end well.

In order to cope, I found myself withdrawing from him.  It was like I was shutting down emotionally.  I wondered if I still cared.  I felt safer if I was detached.

I also found that I was withdrawing from other relationships in my life, including my relationship with God.  It was a lot easier to build a wall around myself so I wouldn’t have to relate or react.

And then, the other morning, the daily Bible verse on my calendar at work led me to the following passage in Hebrews:

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.  But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 

                                                                                    Hebrews 3:7-8, 12-13

It struck a chord with me.  Actually, it struck more than a chord.  It felt like I had been “dope-slapped” up the side of my head.  My wall of protection was actually a wall of sin and its mortar was hardening my heart.

God’s still, small voice was not so small that Friday morning.

Thank you, God, for knocking down that wall.

Anonymous contributor