Isaiah 6:9-10

And He said, “Go, and tell this people: Keep on listening, but do not understand; keep on looking, but do not comprehend. Make the heart of this people insensitive. Their ears dull, and their eyes dim, otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and return and be healed.”

God warns His people to soften their hearts towards Him to avoid judgment. Sin will blind the eyes, ears, and heart, making the person unable and unwilling to change. We have the right to choose life and death with God. If we maintain a guard through the world around ourselves, we will protect ourselves. When we stand up for ourselves and choose to do right in the sight of God, we will be rewarded. 

Daniel 5:20

But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne, and his glory was taken away from him.

The devil will suggest pride to us in our minds. It’s a suggestion that we ’re better—either we know more or we make more money —so people should listen to us. The king and the devil both lost their positions due to pride. The truth is that God is the source of our wisdom and guidance. A humble heart before the Lord will catapult us further in the kingdom of God than one thought of our own personal greatness. 

Matthew 13:15

For this nation’s heart has grown hard, and with their ears they hardly hear, and they have (tightly) closed their eyes, otherwise they would see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn (to Me) and I would heal them.

Sin, pride, and disobedience ignore the tug of Jesus on the heart. When we refuse to receive correction, confess our shortcomings, and acknowledge our errors, God is unable to help us. We have wandered out into the depths of sin through unbelief and self-worship. When we soften our hearts and turn back to God. He will turn toward us. 

Psalm 119:9-10

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping watch (on himself) according to Your word (conforming his life to Your precepts). With all my heart I have sought You, (inquiring of You and longing for You); do not let me wander from Your commandments (neither through ignorance nor by willful disobedience).

Seek God first! What we turn to in times of trouble, and the words we speak, reflect where we are with Jesus. When we keep a watch on ourselves in accordance with the word and follow its commands, we keep our feet firmly planted. Not knowing the truth or being disobedient to the word allows trouble into our lives. 

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active full of power (making it operative, energizing, and effective). It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit (the completeness of a person), and of both joints and marrow (the deepest parts of our nature), exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

The intentions, beliefs, traditions, and values that we harbor in our hearts build us up in our relationship with God, or tear them down. In our hearts are internalized beliefs that may or may not be biblical. We need to judge our beliefs according to the word. We don’t want traditions to hold us back from a close relationship with God. 

Proverbs 28:13-14

He who conceals his transgression will not prosper, but whoever confesses and turns away from sins will find compassion and mercy. Blessed and favored by God is the man who fears (sin and its consequences) at all times. But he who hardens his heart (and is determined to sin) will fall into disaster.  

Connecting to Proverbs, pride is a life stopper. When we humble our hearts and confess our sins, we can continue to flourish under the love of God. If we conceal our sins and refuse to acknowledge them and repent, we do not fear God or the consequences of our actions. Disaster will come because we refuse to acknowledge the error of our ways. 

Ephesians 4:18

For their (moral) understanding is darkened and their reasoning is clouded; (they are) alienated and self-banished from the life of God (with no share in it; this is) because of the (willful) ignorance and spiritual blindness that is (deep-seated) within them, because of the hardness and insensitivity of their heart.

Our time spent learning about Jesus in the Bible and fellowshipping softens our hearts to hear from God. If we lack knowledge of the Bible, we lack understanding. Our heart hardens toward God as we distance ourselves through sin, worldly pursuits, disobedience, trauma, and disappointments. No matter the circumstances, keep close to Jesus and a soft heart to hear. 

Matthew 10:1

Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority and power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. 

Jesus gave His disciples authority and power over unclean spirits. When Jesus was crucified and rose again, Jesus gave us power and authority over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal every sickness. God is waiting on us to exercise our faith and use the authority. God can’t violate His law and our free will. 

Matthew 9:29

Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith (your trust and confidence in My power and My ability to heal) it will be done to you.”

Do we trust in the ability of Jesus to heal us? He died on the cross, took back the authority over this earth from the devil, and handed it to us. Do we believe we have the authority to stop the devil working in our health? If not. Then it is time to open our bible and study until our faith overflows. The word of God is sharper than a two-edged sword, and He is waiting for us to use it.  

2 Timothy 4:18

The Lor will rescue me from every evil assault, and He will bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever.

God rescued Paul from every evil assault! God is not a respecter of persons, and if He will rescue Paul, then God will do the same for us. Stand on the word and speak the faith and praise the Lord. Flood the room with the power and authority given to us by Jesus Christ and watch the demons flee. Don’t give the enemy any ground.