The Bible talks about many characteristics of a heart of stone and in this post; we will discuss the 5 major characteristics that characterize a stony heart that’s unconverted.
If you read the Bible, you will find many verses in both the Old Testament and the New Testament that talks about a stony heart.
One such bible verse is in Ezekiel 11:19, which talks about a stony heart the Lord removes when He gives us a new heart and a new spirit that makes us obedient to Him.
Sadly, many people including believers suffer from this phenomenon of having a hardened heart, which explains why they are not ready and willing to obey whatever our Lord Jesus Christ and God’s word commands them to do.
You need to understand that if God hasn’t yet dealt with the sinful stony heart you are naturally born with, you will find it hard to obey Him.
It is why the Lord wants to give you a new heart and a new spirit if you give your life to Him that will make you no longer be stubborn and disobedient to Him by living a life of sin.
With that said, let’s look at the 5 major characteristics of a heart of stone that all unregenerated sinners have that makes them stubborn and disobedient to God.
What Is The Meaning Of A Stony Heart?
According to the bible, a stony heart is simply a heart that is stubborn, disobedient, unrepentant, and doesn’t want anything to do with God or submit to Him and His word.
A person with a stony heart is never willing to change their evil ways but chooses to remain stubborn in their sins as an act of defiance as sin makes one’s heart stubborn to God.
Ezekiel 36:26 talks about the sinful stony heart we are naturally born with that the Lord removes and replaces it with a new heart of flesh so that we no longer rebel against Him.
5 Characteristics of A Stony Heart.
Take your time to read below the 5 characteristics of a stony heart that comes with the sinful nature we are born with that makes us not want to submit to God.
- Stubborn.
- Hardened To God’s Word.
- Prideful.
- Filled With Its Own Ways.
- Unrepentant.
1. Stubborn.
It’s just a matter of fact that if you have a hardened heart that doesn’t want anything to do with God and His word, you will be stubborn and find it ridiculous to obey God’s word which you will think it’s outdated.
A heart of stone that is stubborn is never interested in submitting to God and the Lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ as we are commanded in James 4:7.
In contrast, if the Lord gives you a new heart, which He promises in Ezekiel 11:19, you will no longer be stubborn to His word and you will now start finding joy in submitting to His word and will for your life.
Therefore, if you have a heart of stone that makes you stubborn and not want to surrender to God, pray so that He gives you a new heart and a new spirit that will enable you to no longer be stubborn to God’s word.
Related: 5 Consequences Of Disobedience In The Bible [+Sermon].
2. Hardened To God’s Word.
A stone heart is also hardened towards God’s word and people with such sinful hearts are not interested in listening to God’s word and obeying it.
People with hardened hearts always want to do things their own ways and when God’s word convicts them of their sinful lifestyle, they protest and get angry by saying, that no one can tell them what to do or how to live their lives.
Hebrew 3:8-15 tells us that we must not harden our hearts when the Lord speaks to us through His word and the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, if we continue that path, we will eventually be destroyed in the end without remedy.
This is why I encourage you that if God is convicting you to change your life or stop doing certain sins through His word, humbly submit to His word and obey it as you will not regret it.
3. Prideful.
Another characteristic that characterizes a hard heart that’s not yet been touched and transformed by Jesus Christ is that it’s prideful and seeks to exalt itself high in the clouds even above God’s word.
A person with a prideful heart will always think there are better than others and usually looks down on others. People with prideful hearts also hate being corrected and never admit their mistakes. They always think they are right all the time and never wrong.
Pride is the worst sin one can ever have as it gives birth to other sins. It’s what made Satan fall from heaven (Ezekiel 28:17) because it leads to one thinking that they need no God in their life to help them or submit to.
The Lord hates pride, which is why it’s an abomination to Him. He goes on further to say in James 4:6-8 that He resists the proud at heart and only gives grace to the humble who realize that without Him, they are nothing.
Related: How To Overcome The Pride Of Life [In 5 Practical Steps].
4. Filled With Its Own Ways.
The other trait that differentiates a heart of stone from the heart of flesh found in all truly born-again Christians is the former is filled with its own ways while the latter seeks to obey God.
In Proverbs 14:14, we are told that the heart of a backslider is filled with its own ways and has no interest in following the ways of the Lord unless the things that please the flesh.
People who are filled with their own ways think they are wise and right in their eyes not realizing the paths and ways of destruction they are blindly walking into, as they hate being corrected (Proverbs 14:12).
If you have a heart that’s filled with its own ways, you will do whatever your deceived heart tells you even if it’s against God’s word or leading you to destruction because your heart has been darkened by sin (Ephesians 4:18).
Related: 10 Characteristics Of A Backslider [ Who’s Fallen From Grace].
5. Unrepentant.
Last but not least, another vital characteristic that differentiates a stony heart from the heart of flesh that’s converted is that the former is unrepentant and never wants to repent of its evil ways.
While the latter is repentant and seeks to do evil no more or return to its old sinful ways. A person with an unrepentant heart is never sorry for their sinful ways and is never willing to turn from their evil ways.
It is why such people see nothing wrong with the sinful lifestyles they are living and say, it’s enjoying life. If your heart isn’t repentant, you will see no reason of quitting the sinful lifestyle you may be temporally enjoying.
Roams 2:5 tells us that if you are such a person with an unrepentant heart who’s unwilling to turn from their evil ways, you are reserving wrath for yourself which will be revealed on judgment day and it won’t be pretty for if you die in that state, dear.
Conclusion.
The above 5 characteristics of a heart of stone are just above many out there listed in the bible that characterizes a hardened heart that we are all naturally born with due to our sinful nature.
I hope and pray that you will not harden your heart today as God speaks to you if there is anything you need to change concerning your heart after reading this.
In closing, if this post has been beneficial to you, let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to share before you leave. Stay blessed.
Other Related Posts.
- 12 (Must-Have) Characteristics Of A Sanctified Life.
- 12 Main Qualities Of A Pure Heart [ Washed By The Blood].
- 11 Signs Of A Wicked Heart (Evil People Always Manifest.)
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This is so inspiring, God bless you sir.
Glad you enjoyed the post and God bless you, too.
THANKS FOR THIS WONDERFUL SHARING. BLESSINGS AHEAD SIR.
You are most welcome dear sis and God bless you as well.