QT 9 Dec 15, Luke 2:13-14, Who pleases God?

Luke 2:13-14 (ESV) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14  "Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

NOTE: So what does it take to please God? That is the great debate among religions. Christianity says that by yourself, you can't.  Paul argues "None is righteous, no, not one; // no one understands; no one seeks for God. // All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; // no one does good, // not even one. (Rom 3:10-12, ESV)" So, by ourselves, we have and can do nothing that pleases God, EXCEPT, the bible teaches that a person can please God by faith. The author of Hebrews makes that abundantly clear, "And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Heb 11:6, ESV)" Faith is how one pleases God. The peace on earth is offered to those who have faith in God, and specifically in context, in the child whose birth we celebrate in this season. God didn't bring peace to the world, he brought peace to those who by faith would experience transformed life. He will bring peace as a result of this birth but that will only occur after he judges the world for its unbelief, rebellion, and sin. And then he will rule as he originally planned (until we rebelled), and we will have eternal life, as he originally planned, in a beautiful kingdom. But for today, there is an offer of peace with God to those who will repent and believe in the miracle of Christmas, God becoming man, and in the cross, the payment for our sin and the proof of life after death. Thank you Lord.

QT 8 Dec 15, Matt 2:3-6, Learning to walk by faith

Matt 2:3-6 (ESV) When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

6  "'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for from you shall come a ruler

who will shepherd my people Israel.'"

NOTE: Israel had the details down but clearly dismissed the interest of the wise men from the east (probably Persians influenced by Daniel). Herod will go back when he learns he has been tricked and based on the information provided about the star will kill every child two years old. But why don't the chief priests and scribes go to Bethlehem?  Were they so proud that they did not think foreigners could see the signs that they could not see? Did they care? Did they believe God would provide since it had been 400 years of silence from God and they were now under the iron rule of Rome? We do give up when we don't see God working in a visible way. Our faith is so weak, we are in constant need of another visible sign. But that is not the faith that God desires. He promises to provide and meet our needs. Why can't we, or better yet, why can't I just believe God on the basis of his promise to me? Why do I need little answers to remind me of his hand at work? Forgive me Lord for my forgetting all that you have done. Forgive me for pursuing my own agenda. I want to wait on your best, not my idea of what is best.

QT 4 Dec 2015, Luke 2:1-5, The feeling of aloneness even when in the middle of God's will

Luke 2:1-7 (ESV) In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

NOTE: Later on, when Jesus is 12 years old, he will be lost among family members as they travel to Jerusalem for a feast celebration. But here, Mary and Joseph are alone, there are no family members, although both families should be traveling for the census. Why? Well, it seems obvious--no one in their families believe them, except Elizabeth, Mary's cousin. Until Joseph's dream, Joseph didn't believe Mary. Joseph's name is attached to all the rumors as well. Sometimes, being right in the middle of the will of God is an uncomfortable place. Things don't go as we would like. People don't look up to us or think good things of us. Life is painful and difficult. Sometimes. And sometimes, being in the middle of the will of God is comfortable as well. But we can't expect comfort or serve God with the idea of being comfortable. It is a false expectation. Mary and Joseph's aloneness is described even more vividly in Matthew, when they can't find an inn. As a husband, it would have been very painful to not be able to protect your wife, your pregnant wife, who is about to have a baby. Left alone by your family, and seemingly left alone by God, since there is no provision of a soft bed and a dry roof. Of course, God does provide, a stable, and while few would consider that a good provision, it serves as a beautiful metaphor of God humbling himself to save an ungrateful, inconsiderate, and uncompassionate people. Thank you Lord. Help me during my times of aloneness to continue in trust.

QT 3 Dec 2015, Luke 1:59-66, Failure is not the end of ministry

Luke 1:59-66 (ESV) And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, "No; he shall be called John." 61 And they said to her, "None of your relatives is called by this name." 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered. 64  And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him.

NOTE: I wonder what Zechariah was thinking all those long months as he waited for his child to be born but could not say anything. He was educated and he could write, probably Elizabeth too, since she knew his name was to be John, and Zechariah could not have spoken that to her. So they probably had many slow pen and voice conversations. But still, what was Zechariah thinking? I blew it … why was I so stupid … I'm am so sorry Lord … have mercy on a foolish man … give me another chance … I am okay with your work in my life. Actually, I think that is the progression, or at least, the progression I would have gone through. And then, another chance comes. He did not know if he would ever speak again, since he could not speak after the baby's birth and now 8 days have elapsed. But, in faith and obedience, he writes "His name is John," since they would not believe his wife. This was the opportunity. It was not common with culture to choose a name not in the family line, but he didn't care. This time, he was obeying the Lord. What are the things God is calling me to do that I am struggling against? Are second chances passing me by without me even knowing? God open my eyes to see the opportunities, the field are already white for harvest.

QT 2 Dec 15, Luke 1:18-20, 41b-45, We need the faith of little children

Luke 1:18-20, 41b-45 (ESV) And Zechariah said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." 19 And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time."

. . .

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord."

NOTE: Moses asked a number of clarifying questions too at the burning bush, but apparently there was a difference in the heart of Moses and that of Zechariah. Mary too, asked a question of how a virgin could have a child and was not rebuked. But Zechariah was immediately rebuked for unbelief. Zechariah wanted an additional sign, as if an angel appearing in the most holy place was not enough. In his heart, Zechariah did not believe. And yet, Zechariah was in service to God ministering in the temple. So the first possibility is as stated, Zechariah did not believe at all, and his question was a challenge question, not a question of faith. A second possibility is that more is required of men whom God has given knowledge and ministry opportunity. Zechariah was a Levite, like Moses, but actually serving in the duties of a Levite. Moses grew up as a ruler of Egypt and did not have the knowledge of Zechariah. So, Zechariah really should have known better--more was expected of him. He was a good man, as we saw in the previous verses, but his age, rather than strengthening his faith, has caused him to doubt God. That is a hard thing that we are all susceptible to. Father, protect our hearts, give us the faith of little children--may we never doubt your goodness.

QT 1 Dec 2015, Luke 1:5-7, Give your children to God

Luke 1:5-7 (ESV) In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.

NOTE: There is a certain kindness in how God approaches this. In one case, we see the miracle of a childless couple, old, somehow miraculously having a child. That is special and significant in the many miracles of Jesus' coming. But because Zechariah and Elizabeth are old, they won't live to see John living in the desert and having his head cut off to please a spoiled daughter and an evil wife. They are spared some of the pain of childbirth, that is, seeing your children grow up in an evil world. The pain of childbirth is not just the physical pain the woman experiences, but the emotional pains that are part of raising children. Yes, there are many joys, but with those joys come heartaches and worries and the inability to fix all the things that go wrong. Life is hard and joyful at the same time. So what is the lesson to us? We are reminded of the need to trust God and give him our children. They have free wills, They will choose poorly at times -- do we actually think they could be different than us? We can't force their decisions. That is difficult. But we need to give our worries and cares to God. He sees them. He knows how he will use them. We need to trust God.

QT 30 Nov 15, 2 Chron 25:9, What is my motivation?

2 Chron 25:9 (ESV) And Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?" The man of God answered, "The Lord is able to give you much more than this."

NOTE: We worry too much about things that are inconsequential. What is money to a person who has infinite resources, like God? Of course, we don't have infinite resources, and so the idea of being swindled or wasting our money, because God has asked us to do something, is difficult for us. If I am in the will of God, I really can't be taken advantage of. Oh, it might look like that to the other person or to a third party, but I would hate to be either of those persons. There are so many things so much more important than money. It should not be my motivation in life. People, and the direction of their lives needs to be my motivation. How can I impact people for good? How can I show them the savior? How can I be different around them in comparison to other people who don't know God. My purpose here, is not to accumulate money. My purpose is to be a light and a witness. If I fail at that, what good is the money. Lord help me to think about people and to think of how to be a light to them. Give me boldness to take advantage of the opportunities as they come up.

QT 26 Nov 15, Eccl 11:4, Faith and action, a balancing act

Eccl 11:4 (ESV) He who observes the wind will not sow,

and he who regards the clouds will not reap.

NOTE: The saying that 'God helps those who help themselves' is nowhere in the bible. It is never said or written down. But, there is certainly the principle of action and prudence combined with faith. Another saying that I was also reminded of recently, "pray as if everything depends on God, work as if everything depends on you." I think the point of these sayings and the verse above is that we do have a responsibility to act. And as a minimum, faith cannot be used as an excuse to be lazy. We must complete the responsibilities before us. Paul said, if a man will not work, he should not eat. Where we get into trouble is where we try to do too much? But what is too much? That is a hard question and I don't have any easy answers, except, I think deep down within our spirit, if we are putting the issue to prayer, we will know in our spirit if we are doing too much or not enough. That is not a very good answer, but it does require the most essential element in determining God's will, and that is prayer.

QT 25 Nov 15, Luke 4:40-41, Even the demons believe and shudder

Luke 4:40-41 (ESV) Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41  And demons also came out of many, crying, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

NOTE: The spiritual forces in opposition clearly understood who Jesus was. We might argue that we can't trust what was written, although that is not a logical argument given the evidence. We might argue the supposedly demon-possessed are not good witnesses and the latter argument might make sense. Except for the fact, that what Jesus did is not possible for a normal man. The population recognized very clearly that he was different. The authority of his words and teaching, the healing, the miracles, are undeniable pieces of evidence. His claims force us to deal with the man himself. As someone once argued, he must be classified as a liar or a lunatic or Lord. A reasoned look at his life will dismiss liar and lunatic, and then we are left with Lord. He is the Lord of the universe, the God who created us. He demands our allegiance and our obedience. He is the Son of God. Father, open our eyes to reason and truth.

QT 23 Nov 15, Isa 66:22-24, God's plan is coming to fruition

Isa 66:22-24 (ESV) "For as the new heavens and the new earth

that I make

shall remain before me, says the Lord,

so shall your offspring and your name remain.

23  From new moon to new moon,

and from Sabbath to Sabbath,

all flesh shall come to worship before me,

declares the Lord.

24 "And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."

NOTE: The book of Isaiah resembles the construction of the Christian bible in some aspects. It ends like Revelation does prophesying a new heavens and a new earth and a finished judgment. Men will die because they refused to believe and they chose to continue in Adam's rebellion. The rest of the world shall come and worship God in the new Jerusalem. It is hard to imagine at times and it is hard to understand. I know that God will remove the worries, fears, and tears of life, and yet some of that is what makes joy so wonderful. But God knows our emotional and relational needs. He will provide life that is meaningful. He will provide lasting joy and peace. He will provide a better place than what we created in our own strength. We tend to think of how great we are in our accomplishments, but they are quite puny and sometimes futile. For the believer, God will provide as he has from the beginning. One thing I've learned from Jacob, is that I would be nothing without God. My personal accomplishments are gifts from God. I can be prudent and smart in my planning, but God is the one who works out my future. I wonder what the next few years, months, even days hold? I need to trust and wait upon my God who richly gives me more than I deserve.

QT 19 Nov 15, Isa 65:2, Asking tough questions about our motives

Isa 65:2 (ESV)

I spread out my hands all the day

to a rebellious people,

who walk in a way that is not good,

following their own devices;

NOTE: This is really the heart of our problem, we don't want to wait on God, but prefer our own devices. And what we don't understand, because we lack God's wisdom and sight, is that our way is not good. Oh, it certainly seems good and we have all of our human arguments why it is good, but we don't know the future or the repercussions of getting what we want and not getting what God desires for us. We are a "rebellious people." We act a good line, but we are duplicitous. So much so, that we actually fool ourselves. We listen to what we want to hear. We take advice from people who tells what we want to hear. We defend ourselves using our human arguments. We really don't want God's will, we just want to say it out loud to others, but really we want our way and our will. The good news is that God can help us to see this in ourselves. David, a man after God's heart, prayed, "Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Ps 139:23,24)." If David knew that his heart could deceive him, how can we believe any less about ourselves? We need to ask the tough questions of God, that is, tough questions about ourselves and our real motives. But the real question is, will we listen to God's answer?

QT 18 Nov 15, Isa 64:4, The need to wait

Isa 64:4 (ESV)

From of old no one has heard

or perceived by the ear,

 no eye has seen a God besides you,

who acts for those who wait for him.

NOTE: I think the key idea here is the importance of waiting up God. Why is waiting so important? Waiting implies trust and God desires our trust. Waiting is also resting, although at times it is hard to rest while waiting for something to come. But true waiting is resting, knowing that what we wait for will be delivered. And in this case, waiting is accepting what comes as the best possible short- and long-term solution to our need. God knows what we REALLY NEED; he also knows what we WANT, but there is a huge difference between the two. We need to have faith that he cares about and will provide what we really need in the perfect time. Waiting is hard. In Michael Card's song Marantha, he sings "… waiting's the most bitter lesson a believing heart has to learn." It is not easy, but it is essential to our growth that we learn to wait and trust.

QT 17 Nov 15, Where is God?

Isa 63:11 (ESV) Then he remembered the days of old,

of Moses and his people.

 Where is he who brought them up out of the sea

with the shepherds of his flock?

Where is he who put in the midst of them

his Holy Spirit, …

NOTE: This is a common refrain of God's people, "where is God?" From an Atheist's point of view, they would argue, "he is not there." But that really is too simple of an answer and does not logically answer the times where his hand is clearly seen--one comes with the other--you can't dismiss what you don't like. But neither can we dismiss the times when God does not seem to be there. So, assuming God is there, the real question is, why does he not answer prayer or why does he not provide? Like an earthly father who knows not to give his children everything they ask for and when they ask for it, God provides what is best for us--what we really need and when we really need it. I am absolutely convinced we would be a mess if God gave us everything we asked for without restraint. God is not Santa Claus or the tooth fairy. God is our father and he is keenly concerned with our growth and purpose in his kingdom. Most "things" we really don't need. What we do need is to trust God. And so, the delays and apparent non-answers cause us to trust Him and go to Him even more. We need Him as opposed to we 'use' Him, and that is an important distinction. Lord, forgive us for our lack of faith, help our unbelief.

QT 16 Nov 15, God makes old things new

Isa 62:11-12 (ESV) Behold, the Lord has proclaimed

to the end of the earth:

 Say to the daughter of Zion,

 "Behold, your salvation comes;

behold, his reward is with him,

and his recompense before him."

12  And they shall be called The Holy People,

The Redeemed of the Lord;

 and you shall be called Sought Out,

A City Not Forsaken.

NOTE: No matter what the world has done to us, we are not forsaken. God can make the world's throwaways into something wonderful and beautiful. But we must submit to him and to his work in our life. He desires to recreate us, but we must allow him. God does not force his will upon us. He will not work with the stubborn and prideful (like Israel was most of the time), but desires the humble and broken-hearted, those who are ready for his best (not what they think is best). What a wonderful promise! God has not forsaken us no matter how terrible things might look. Rejoice, seek him again. He longs to redeem us.

QT 12 Nov 15, Isa 61:4, Our future work

Isa 61:4 (ESV) They shall build up the ancient ruins;

they shall raise up the former devastations;

they shall repair the ruined cities,

the devastations of many generations.

NOTE: This passage has more to do with the millennial period than Israel's return to the land after their time in Babylon. It makes sense given the widespread war and devastation from natural disasters (or not so natural). The earth will be a mess after the return of Christ. God could recreate, which he does promise to do after the 1000-year reign, but I think it will be our job to restore the creation during the 1000-year reign. We made the mess; we get to clean it up. It will be hard work but enjoyable work, much like the feeling one gets after cleaning something that has not been cleaned in a while. In the midst of this work, this purpose, we will live life. It will be a joyful life. Justice will reign and our lives will have purpose. We will finally live as God intended and we will experience life as God intended.

QT 11 Nov 11, Isa 60:12-14, The day of justice is coming

Isa 60:12-14 (ESV) For the nation and kingdom

that will not serve you shall perish;

those nations shall be utterly laid waste.

…

14  The sons of those who afflicted you

shall come bending low to you,

 and all who despised you

shall bow down at your feet;

 they shall call you the City of the Lord,

the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

NOTE: The passage is a promise specific to the nation of Israel and it  concerns other nations and their response to Israel. God is very clearly that he will destroy the nations who would not serve Israel. In the millennial kingdom, the ruler ship of the earth will center in Jerusalem. Jesus will rule over all the nations. David will rule over Israel. The church shall assist in ruling and judging the nations, but we shall all serve Jesus. We will finally have justice and we will finally have peace. Life will be as God originally intended it to be. We shall eat of the tree of life and shall live forever. I suppose I won't really care whether I was proved right or not in that day. I will be happy to be alive and to have been given eternal life by Jesus' sacrifice. Sometimes I wonder, while I am singing in church, if every time I worship in the kingdom, whether I will cry at the thought that God loved me and saved me and I was so unworthy. I wonder if I will ever not cry at that thought. I wonder if I ever would want to not cry. Thank you God for my salvation!

QT 10 Nov 15, Isa 59:1-2, God does hear and can intervene, but he chooses not

Isa 59:1-2 (ESV) Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,

or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;

2  but your iniquities have made a separation

between you and your God,

and your sins have hidden his face from you

so that he does not hear.

NOTE: This is one answer to the age-old question of why God does not intervene to prevent evil from happening. God says that our sin, our choice to live life without him, is why he refuses to act. It is not an issue of power or lack of knowledge. God knows about it and God could intervene, but he chooses not. This started in the garden during what we call the "fall of man." Essentially, mankind chose self-rule over God's rule. God allowed it, but warned man that he would not like the results of man in charge. Access to the tree of life was cut off, resulting in death. Sin slowly destroyed the foundations of the planet in some unknown way, causing many of the disasters of today. One might argue, "but what about innocent babies?" First, God never calls anyone innocent in scripture, even the most righteous person. Second, if the baby is in fact sinless, the cynic's argument is then based on the fact that life on earth must be better than life in heaven (which would only be speculation, since the original idea of eternal life was life and purpose on earth). Third, in a technical sense, since God is the creator, the potter (so to speak), what difference does it make what he does with the pottery, since he could have just decided to not create as well as to create? But none of these questions or diversions deal with the real issue--we chose life away from God and we need to repent and to return to God.

QT 9 Nov 15, Isa 58:9-11, Expressing our faith

Isa 58:9-11 (ESV) Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;

you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.'

If you take away the yoke from your midst,

 the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

10  if you pour yourself out for the hungry

and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

 then shall your light rise in the darkness

and your gloom be as the noonday.

11 And the Lord will guide you continually

and satisfy your desire in scorched places

and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden,

like a spring of water,

whose waters do not fail.

NOTE: The emphasis of the passage, and the previous verses, is twofold, in my mind. First, the individual's faith is expressed in kindness and non-judgment of others. My interest should not be in what they do but in who they need to know (which is Jesus). The second part of a correct expression of faith is a concern for hungry and afflicted, people in need and in distress. These two aspects best describe the expression of faith that God wants to see in his children. And God desires to partner with these men and women of faith. He wants to use them as a light, to guide them to places where he can use them, and cause them to be a refreshing spring to those around him. Lord, this is the person I desire to be, a kind and giving person whom you can use to water your creation.

QT 4 Nov 15, Isa 58:1-3, Real worship is not in religious activities

Isa 58:1-3 (ESV) "Cry aloud; do not hold back;

 lift up your voice like a trumpet;

 declare to my people their transgression,

to the house of Jacob their sins.

2  Yet they seek me daily

and delight to know my ways,

as if they were a nation that did righteousness

and did not forsake the judgment of their God;

they ask of me righteous judgments;

they delight to draw near to God.

3  'Why have we fasted, and you see it not?

Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?'

Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure,

 and oppress all your workers.

NOTE: This so much describes the "religious" church or the nominal "believer." They "seek" God but only for their benefit. They go through the motions but only because they believe they will benefit or for some sad good luck ritual reasoning. And then they wonder why God ignores their prayers, and yet there is no "real" spiritual life within their souls. They are more interested in what they gain than in knowing the God of the universe. Quite frankly, God has made it clear that he is sick of this type of worship: of rules, of meaningless activities, of perverse righteousness (the holier than thou attitude)--God is tired of it all. It is not what he wants. It is not AT ALL what he desires. Later in the passage he describes the true actions--actions that show real care for people and a humility before God and man. That is what he has called us to, not this sham that we call religion. Lord, purge us of facades and draw us close to you.

QT 2 Nov 15, Isa 57:15, God revives the contrite and lowly in spirit

Isa 57:15 (ESV) For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,

who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:

 "I dwell in the high and holy place,

and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,

 to revive the spirit of the lowly,

and to revive the heart of the contrite.

NOTE: We are not like God in knowledge or holiness or many other attributes. We are made in his image, but that does not make us like him. We can love, and freely choose, and can be aware of our place in the universe, but we fall infinitely short of God. And yet, he dwells with those who have a contrite and lowly spirit. Apparently, God enjoys those who recognize their sinfulness and understand the difference between them and God. He enjoys communion with these followers and he desires to revive them. We need revival and, we need restoration. The ultimate restoration will bring us back to where God intended us when he created us to live in a garden without fear of death. That day is coming soon and the change will start in the Millennial kingdom where God begins restoring his creation as he intended it to be at the beginning. But even before then, he works to revive and restore his children. There is no sin or action of the truly contrite that God cannot bring good into the person's life. David failed greatly, but God restored him. There were consequences, but God never left David. God yearns to revive the contrite and lowly. May sin never harden our hearts such that we are not contrite or fail to recognize our lowliness compared to God.