A Prayer About Hard-heartedness

A prayer about Hard-heartedness

When I want to guard against becoming hard-hearted

O Lord,

Is my heart becoming harder and more stubborn or softer and more pliable? Like the Prodigal Son’s older brother, at times I find it hard to forgive others because my mind is set on punishment rather than mercy. Sometimes I struggle to see you in my daily life, choosing instead to interpret circumstances as coincidence or good luck. I’m afraid that means my heart is harder than it should be. I need your help, Lord! I want to have a tender heart that values mercy and forgiveness as you do, that reaches out to you no matter what my circumstances may be. Please keep me responsive to your love. May I never cut myself off from you, the only one who can really help me.

The older brother . . . replied, “All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!” His father said to him, “Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!” Luke 15:28-32