Where is your heart? Exodus 7:3-4 ESV  [3] But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I multiply my signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, [4] Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment.  1. What is a hard heart?  Our hearts can be hardened by many things  We've been hurt by someone  Emotional hurt  Physical hurt  Unintended hurt  Jealousy  They have a thing or position that we feel like we should have  Unfounded fears  You think they are trying to hurt you or have it out for you  Wanting something so bad you won't listen to anyone  We can probably all think of someone that has been in our life that for some reason just the thought of them makes us annoyed or maybe we have been on the other end of that where we have tried everything to get along with someone and they just want nothing to do with you.     God did not make pharaoh's heart hard, this was not a divine act that caused Pharaoh to all of a sudden not like God or not believe in him. Pharaoh’s heart was made hard by his own fear. He had already seen how blessed the Israelites were and he was afraid that they would get too powerful for him to control  2. Is your heart hardened towards God?  We serve a God of many chances and unending grace but we also serve a God that knows our heart and if He knows that we have decided in our heart that we want to do things our way instead of His way then He will lift his hand off of us and let us find out the hard way.  Have you ever done that with your child or your spouse? You've told them a thousand times how to do something and they continue to do it their way so all you can do is sit back and let them learn the hard way.  Do we want God to have to teach us the hard way?  What is that thing in your life that you know God is calling you to do? i. Is it talking to someone about Jesus  Letting go of the chains of sin that are holding you back  Tithing  Serving  There have been many things in the church that at first either I thought I wouldn't be any good at or didn't want to do but through the grace and fear of God I knew I needed to at least give it a try and now they have all turned into things that I love to do and have helped me be closer to God God does not call us to do anything that he will not equip us to be able to do but we have to take that first step of faith knowing that where we fall short God will make up for the rest  3. How do we soften our hearts?  Seeking Gods forgiveness for our rebellious attitude  God does not lift his hand off of us because we are just too far gone, he does it out of love and desire for us to do more than we can ever imagine for his kingdom  Take that step of faith  Talk to that person that you feel like God has been drawing you to and let his words flow out of you  Talk to someone about what you are struggling with. We are not made to go through life alone  Take the next step on the giving ladder  Talk to the person in charge of where you feel like God is calling you to serve.  Whatever it is take that first step and let God guide you the rest of the way  Transformational moments  Is your heart hardened towards God?  What step of faith do you need to take to soften your heart?  Is it time to stop pushing God away and draw closer to him?