Holy Spirit of God, help my heart not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin…

 
Hebrews 3:7-14 & Psalm 95

 
The deceitfulness of sin is very tricky to identify, let alone manage in my life. Wildcard temptations, like greed, envy, passions, and the sneakiest of all, acedia – a despondency about life in general and all things holy in particular – creep around and into our lives in a wide variety of ways, making friends with us and leading us into ways and days that are not true to the Truth of God’s Mercy and ‘righteousness’. They lure us with minimizing their effect, “Just a little bit won’t hurt, just this once. It’ll make me feel better…” And cloud our hearts and minds with the false assumptions of mainstream ways,  “You have a right to be comfortable, happy, secure, and successful, no matter what the cost to others, and to your own integrity…” All of these feel good attitudes eventually waive our understanding of the right path that God would lead us on, expressed by Jesus in the Be-attitudes. They harden our hearts and understanding so that we no longer recognize right from wrong, let alone allow God’s Truth and Love to guide our thoughts, words, and deeds. Small lies lead to big lies and hearts softened to be open to God’s tenderness become hardened hour by hour, day by day and year by year. Will I be distracted by all the deceits vying for my attention in our current social milieu, or will I listen to the voice of God, small and still in my heart -  a heart attuned to receive and give Mercy?  Holy Spirit of God, help my heart not be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.    
 
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. (Ezekiel 36:26-17)
 
The power of God is capable of finding hope where hope no longer exists, and a way where the way is impossible.
St. Gregory of Nyssa
 
Soli ad gloriam Dei
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