Callused, Not Calloused

Callused, Not Calloused

Runners’ feet. They’re not pretty. I lost eight toenails after my first marathon.

I go in for the occasional pedicure.

But, I don’t let them touch my calluses.

Those hard spots of toughened skin protect my toes from the constant pounding of running. Without my calluses, I start over. Blood blisters and all.

Calluses form from friction. Some friction comes from good things like guitar playing, hard work, and prayer on your knees.

Callousness comes from the wrong things.

Scripture warns us to keep our hearts from being hardened. Toughened. Calloused.

Matthew 13:15 (NIV) quotes Isaiah when it says, “For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.”

A hardened heart affects the eyes and ears.

Here are some training tips to get your calluses in the right places while avoiding callousness:

Blood, Sweat, and Tears: The flesh and the emotions must be trained to serve the Spirit through the will. Both will fight with a fury because they want to follow deceptive desires.

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:12

Friction: Expect it. Press in to the training. There will be some tenderness at first, but the right calluses will form. You are more than a conqueror.

“For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Sensitivity Training: Cultivate sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Today’s memory verse warns us not to harden our hearts—in response to His voice. Do we tune God out the way we tune out our kids?

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Galatians 5:16

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30

Sensitive spirits. Tough skin.

Nail your spiritual workouts and change your corner of the gym.

Workout of the Week: Callused, Not Calloused

Memory Verse: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts . . .” Psalm 95:7-8 NIV

Meditation Passage: Hebrews 12: 1-11

Just Do It: Sensitive spirit, tough skin.

Tweetables:

A hardened heart affects the eyes and ears. Click To Tweet
The flesh and the emotions must be trained to serve the Spirit through the will. Click To Tweet
Friction forms calluses. Click To Tweet
Do we tune God out the way we tune out our kids? Click To Tweet
Sensitive spirits. Tough skin. Click To Tweet

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