God softening a hardened heart

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It struck me to wonder lately, or think more deeply about this. Sometimes, we ask God to soften the hardened heart of someone we know, someone in our family, someone we care about. And sometimes our prayer for this is answered. But for God to have softened someone’s heart, the person really didn’t change on their own. For example, if someone didn’t believe in Him, and the prayers were that he or she would turn to Him and He made this person turn to Him, wouldn’t God feel as though the person only came to Him because He made them and they really didn’t do it themselves at all? Sorry if this is confusing. I find it hard to express what I mean on this, but am hoping it’s able to be understood.
 
Great thoughts on the Sovereignty of God. God chooses whoever he will to come to him. Yet we somehow play a part in that by our obedience. Point being : Baptism , good works , any other action we do - does not save us. Only God changing that hard heart. Never stop praying for someone because we can’t tell if they are destined to be saved.
Who would have thought Saul the murderer of Christians would be so turned around by Jesus that he would have such an impact for Jesus !.
We can only do our part and leave the rest to Jesus.
 
There’s someone i’ve known through email for about a year and a half. She tells me (or told me, before my last rant) i have changed somewhat from the person she met the first time, who mocked everything about (our?) religion. I was never truly and still ain’t a practicing Catholic and neither have the rest of my immediate family (Mum,dad,siblings), but reading bits and pieces about the saints just had me look upon some of them in awe…and envy too:blush:

I still have doubts though.
 
Crown_of_Stars said:
It struck me to wonder lately, or think more deeply about this. Sometimes, we ask God to soften the hardened heart of someone we know, someone in our family, someone we care about. And sometimes our prayer for this is answered. But for God to have softened someone’s heart, the person really didn’t change on their own. For example, if someone didn’t believe in Him, and the prayers were that he or she would turn to Him and He made this person turn to Him, wouldn’t God feel as though the person only came to Him because He made them and they really didn’t do it themselves at all? Sorry if this is confusing. I find it hard to express what I mean on this, but am hoping it’s able to be understood.
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God gives to everyone what he gave to St. Paul when St. Paul cried to God over his pain. God said to him, “my grace is sufficient for you.”

He gives all sufficient grace but some turn from it. And the more a person turns from it, the harder they become to it. So they become so far from God that it now becomes a matter of over abundance of grace to open up their understanding and return to doing God’s will. And this is what we ask God to give them…the GREAT grace they now require.

Sometimes it seems that asking God for GREAT graces is asking too much. First because we think we don’t deserve great graces because we are miserable sinners ourselves. Second because we might think that we shouldn’t ask for great graces since it seems this might deprive someone else the ordinary grace they need.

But nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus died for all, and the “pool” of grace so to speak is absolutely limitless and without bottom. We could never shrink this “pool” of grace if great graces were given to everyone every minosecond. And asking for great graces for sinners, both ourselves and others, pleases Jesus to no end…for the very purpose he came was to save sinners not the just.

Mary, in giving us the miraculous medal has said that GREAT graces and ABUNDANT graces would be given thru this medal depending on one’s faith in her as the mother of God. GREAT graces should be asked for and not ordinary graces…but with faith and trust.

So ask for GREAT graces to use what Jesus wants you to have by asking him with trust and love.
 
These answers have helped me to understand this more. Thank you, as always, for your (name removed by moderator)ut.🙂
 
Crown_of_Stars said:
It struck me to wonder lately, or think more deeply about this. Sometimes, we ask God to soften the hardened heart of someone we know, someone in our family, someone we care about. And sometimes our prayer for this is answered. But for God to have softened someone’s heart, the person really didn’t change on their own. For example, if someone didn’t believe in Him, and the prayers were that he or she would turn to Him and He made this person turn to Him, wouldn’t God feel as though the person only came to Him because He made them and they really didn’t do it themselves at all? Sorry if this is confusing. I find it hard to express what I mean on this, but am hoping it’s able to be understood.
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God draws us all; He gives all men sufficient grace, in some manner or another, at some time or another, to turn to Him. But even then He doesn’t force us; grace is always resistible.
 
When God sends a person a grace (e.g. the softening of his/her heart), the person must say yes to receiving that grace in order to receive it. God bless you.
 
Fred
I think Kathryn was asking heart conditions before salvation experience . So actually God gave Saul ( Paul) what he didn’t ask for …Faith ! Struck on that road blind. A killer of Christians one minute a believer in Jesus the next. It can happen like that to anyone.
rick
 
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