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  HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND TO GOD IN THIS PROCESS?
  by K.P. Yohannan
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Summary: We have a choice to respond to God's work in our lives, and
keeping our hearts soft requires diligence, humility, and a willingness
to submit to one another.

Topics: "Humility", "Heart Condition"
Scripture References: 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 95:8, Proverbs 4:23, Isaiah 57:15, Matthew 5:5, Romans 12:3, Ephesians 5:21, Hebrews 3:15, James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:5

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DESCRIPTION
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K.P. Yohannan emphasizes the importance of responding to God's voice and
the choice we have to either soften or harden our hearts in the face of
life's challenges. He warns that while we may start with tender hearts,
we can gradually become hardened, often without realizing it, and that
God uses circumstances to bring us back to Him. The sermon highlights
the need for diligence in keeping our hearts soft and warns against
pride and self-importance, reminding us that all we have is by God's
grace. Yohannan encourages humility and submission to one another as
essential responses to God's work in our lives.

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CONTENT
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Hebrews 3:15 says, "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden
your hearts." This verse tells us that when God works in our lives and
speaks to us, we have a choice. Will we choose to soften our hearts to
His work in us, or will we harden our hearts to Him and the
circumstances He is allowing?

In fact, it is possible for us as believers to have a tender heart for a
season, but then slowly turn and allow our hearts to become hard. This
is a scary place to be. We can go years before we really begin to
recognize the symptoms.

But the Lord will not just let us go. He will allow circumstances to
pound us so our hearts will once again become soft and pliable. The
people of Israel are the perfect example of this. Just think of how many
times God allowed them to face famines, hardships, oppression, defeat
and captivity in order to soften their hearts and help them return to
Him!

How should we respond to God in this process? We should yield to His
work and not make it more difficult for Him. The Enemy works constantly
to lure us to the place in which we harden our hearts. It must be our
highest priority to keep our hearts with all diligence (see Proverbs
4:23). No matter how long we've traveled or how soft our hearts are
right now, we have the choice just around the corner to allow either
blessings or trials to harden our hearts. That's why Proverbs says "with
all diligence." Keeping our hearts will not happen casually.

What are some of the potholes we may run into along the way?

Out of all the temptations, I believe the worst is having an elevated
view of ourselves. Whether it is something significant we did for the
kingdom or an area in which we feel superior, we can easily slip into
feeling important and not recognize that our hearts are filled with
pride, arrogance and an exalted view of ourselves.

We must remind ourselves that all the gifts, talents and ministry we
have are given to us by the Lord. It's all God's grace. Look for
opportunities to humble yourself. Choose to submit to one another (see
Ephesians 5:21) and lay down your own preferences for the sake of
others. Don't fight for your rights, and be willing to give up
something. Grace is given to those who are humble (see James 4:6), not
to those who are right or feel indispensable.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/kp-yohannan/how-should-we-respond-to-god-in-this-process/
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