What does how I eat have to do with Pharaoh? 🙂
When I read Scripture and notice in a short section that there are words or phrases repeated, I take note. Maybe God has something for me there.
Monday morning, in Exodus 7, I noticed a few of these repetitions (they continue in subsequent chapters of Exodus, too):
“Moses and Aaron did just as the Lord commanded.”“Pharaoh’s heart became hard.”“[Pharaoh] would not listen to them.”
All three off these were responses to the voice of God. God spoke directly to Moses and Aaron. And God spoke to Pharaoh through Moses and Aaron.
1. First and foremost, God speaks to people! I am in awe of this. He still does today!
In fact, anyone who is in Christ has the Spirit of God (Romans 8:9). The Holy Spirit convicts us regarding sin and righteousness (John 16). Thin Within depends on this fact. When we decide to “follow” Thin Within, we see that we don’t need external rules and regulations for our eating. If we stop and are still long enough to listen to what God says to us through the Spirit we will sense a conviction in our hearts about our eating. This may help us to know if we are really hungry, if it is a need that can’t be met physically, or if a food we are considering eating (even when hungry) is going to adequately fuel our bodies or just gratify a craving of our taste buds. Countless times throughout the day, we can focus our attention on the Lord and his revealing of his will to us by the voice of his Spirit in our hearts.
2. Secondly, when I sense God speaking to me through His Spirit, I choose my response. My response may be like one of those seen in Exodus 7.
- I can do “just as the Lord commanded.”
- I can harden my heart.
- I can refuse to listen.
When I minimize the significance of my choice to eat something or not, I am potentially hardening my heart and refusing to listen to the voice of God.
I am privileged that he speaks to me and that I can know his voice (John 10:27).
I want to do that which the Lord commands each and every time.
Am I like Moses and Aaron? Or am I more like Pharaoh? Pharaoh hardened his heart to the instruction of God. In the seemingly small, “insignificant” moments of life, when the whisper of the Spirit is ever present, do I hearken and obey? Or do I turn a deaf ear and harden my heart? Even in those “small,” seemingly insignificant moments…something hugely significant happens. I can add another layer of a callus to my heart or, I can invite a softening to continue in my heart.
What about you? When you prepare to eat, how can you foster a softened, responsive heart?
I don't like you right now! LOL, you are so right!! Lord help me have a soft heart also!!!!!!!! Love you dear friend
I don't like you right now! LOL, you are so right!! Lord help me have a soft heart also!!!!!!!! Love you dear friend
Heidi — Good blog today! I know I find myself ignoring God when He tries to convict me or guide me by His Holy Spirit. "Ignoring" doesn't sound as bad as having a "hardened heart," but I think it's time that I call it what it really is!! It's time to acknowledge the Holy Spirit's action in my thoughts throughout the day and start listening. And — when eating — I just need to SLOW DOWN! I just don't enjoy the gift of food that God has blessed me with. If I enjoy eating so much — and I do! — why not take my time to eat with thanksgiving — and truly be blessed by Him? This really is an amazing thing to think about — eating like Pharaoh. Eating can be a worshipful thing — done with much thanksgiving. That's totally different than eating with a selfish heart — only eating to satisfy my hard, self-focused heart. Another good exhortation!
Heidi — Good blog today! I know I find myself ignoring God when He tries to convict me or guide me by His Holy Spirit. "Ignoring" doesn't sound as bad as having a "hardened heart," but I think it's time that I call it what it really is!! It's time to acknowledge the Holy Spirit's action in my thoughts throughout the day and start listening. And — when eating — I just need to SLOW DOWN! I just don't enjoy the gift of food that God has blessed me with. If I enjoy eating so much — and I do! — why not take my time to eat with thanksgiving — and truly be blessed by Him? This really is an amazing thing to think about — eating like Pharaoh. Eating can be a worshipful thing — done with much thanksgiving. That's totally different than eating with a selfish heart — only eating to satisfy my hard, self-focused heart. Another good exhortation!
Hi, D. LOL!:-) I don't like me either. Now I am all the more accountable for this TRUTH and I wonder WHY I am hardening my HEART so much and doing what the hey I want? Especially when what I REALLY want is a SOFT heart! BLEAH! Love you. I can't WAIT to see you…you know…hopefully before we get to heaven. LOL!
Hi, D. LOL!:-) I don't like me either. Now I am all the more accountable for this TRUTH and I wonder WHY I am hardening my HEART so much and doing what the hey I want? Especially when what I REALLY want is a SOFT heart! BLEAH! Love you. I can't WAIT to see you…you know…hopefully before we get to heaven. LOL!
This explains it. I've been wondering why I've felt so dry spiritually for the last year or so. Believerkjk, you are correct. "Ignoring" doesn't sound as bad as having a "hardened heart," but it certainly is the truth of what I do all too often.God has been faithful to convict and warn me in my eating. I listen for a brief time, but when that heart hunger rages, I harden my heart to His promptings and end up feeling defeated, guilty, and miserable. As soon as I am aware of His leading, I need to obey immediately and rejoice that I won't have to feel defeated, guilty and miserable.This post encourages me that as I do obey His promptings, my heart will soften, and I will no longer be dry spiritually.
This explains it. I've been wondering why I've felt so dry spiritually for the last year or so. Believerkjk, you are correct. "Ignoring" doesn't sound as bad as having a "hardened heart," but it certainly is the truth of what I do all too often.God has been faithful to convict and warn me in my eating. I listen for a brief time, but when that heart hunger rages, I harden my heart to His promptings and end up feeling defeated, guilty, and miserable. As soon as I am aware of His leading, I need to obey immediately and rejoice that I won't have to feel defeated, guilty and miserable.This post encourages me that as I do obey His promptings, my heart will soften, and I will no longer be dry spiritually.
Kim — So glad to hear from you. We agree! I know I tend to minimize God's activity in my life. When I'm convicted, I "ignore" it. Nope! I'm hardened against it, because I really don't want to hear it. When He extends His blessing, I count it as coincidence. Let's give credit where credit is due!! God is on the move! I know I need to see God in much more of my day instead of thinking that the day just unfolds on its own. We need to pay more attention to Him. If "all things work for our good" (as Romans 8:28 says), then He's got His hands in ALL things. We've gotta pay more attention!
Kim — So glad to hear from you. We agree! I know I tend to minimize God's activity in my life. When I'm convicted, I "ignore" it. Nope! I'm hardened against it, because I really don't want to hear it. When He extends His blessing, I count it as coincidence. Let's give credit where credit is due!! God is on the move! I know I need to see God in much more of my day instead of thinking that the day just unfolds on its own. We need to pay more attention to Him. If "all things work for our good" (as Romans 8:28 says), then He's got His hands in ALL things. We've gotta pay more attention!
Hi, Kim, Believerkjk *is* right! We do tend to "rename" things so that they don't sound quite so offensive! So having a hardened heart becomes "turning a deaf ear" or something equally innocuous. Thanks for bringing this to light, girls! I really see this predominating in my life more than I care to.Kim, I love what you said: "As soon as I am aware of His leading, I need to obey immediately and rejoice that I won't have to feel defeated, guilty and miserable. It is my prayer for all of us today that we will obey immediately–even MID-BITE! LOL! So that we can delight in his leading and not experience that extra little bit of hardening on our hearts…I am thankful for you girls! 🙂
Hi, Kim, Believerkjk *is* right! We do tend to "rename" things so that they don't sound quite so offensive! So having a hardened heart becomes "turning a deaf ear" or something equally innocuous. Thanks for bringing this to light, girls! I really see this predominating in my life more than I care to.Kim, I love what you said: "As soon as I am aware of His leading, I need to obey immediately and rejoice that I won't have to feel defeated, guilty and miserable. It is my prayer for all of us today that we will obey immediately–even MID-BITE! LOL! So that we can delight in his leading and not experience that extra little bit of hardening on our hearts…I am thankful for you girls! 🙂