Scripture:

Exodus 8:15, 9:12

15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said

12 But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said to Moses.

When we resist God and His ways, His knowledge, when we resist His Lordship, He honors our request and gives us over to.   In fact in you go over to Romans 1:21-29, you see this picture of the results of rebellion, and stubborn, hard hearts, they become calloused and resistant to the leading and direction of God.   The reason people don't hear God more is that they have stopped listening, stopped being obedient, and because God gave us free will, He gives us over to our decision.    The good news is that God is able to reverse this effect when we decide to turn back to Him.  Ezekiel 36:26  "I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

The application here is to guard our hearts, to give ourselves over to the Lord, to be humble, to be obedient, to be "surrendered" to Him and His ways.   Question:  If we believe His way is better, then shouldn't we step into it?

Lord, I pray that any place in us that is resistant to your leading be removed, any calloused area of our hearts be removed, let your fruit be evident in our lives, let the fruit of the spirit that is at work in us be the greater portion, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, let that be our portion, so that our hearts would always be turned towards you, in Jesus name, amen!