Why does God feel so distant right now? If you're praying, reading your Bible, and showing up for church - but still feel like you're just going through the motions - this devotional is for you.

In Hosea 10:12, God tells His people to "plough up the hard ground of your hearts." Your spiritual life might feel stuck not because of some great sin, but because of the very real hurts life has thrown at you. Disappointment. Betrayal. Weariness. Over time, these things harden our hearts - and when the ground is hard, even God's presence can't sink in.

But here's the hope: God promises in Ezekiel 36:26 to take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. This 7-minute Bible devotional will show you how to identify the hard ground in your heart and take one courageous step toward spiritual renewal today.

🕒 TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 – Why does God feel distant?
00:42 – Hosea 10:12: Plough up the hard ground
01:27 – How does a heart become hard?
02:19 – The deceitfulness of spiritual distance
03:12 – How to plough up hard ground
04:22 – God's promise: A new heart (Ezekiel 36:26)
05:50 – Your call to action: Name the hurt
06:22 – Prayer for a soft heart

📖 KEY SCRIPTURES:
• Hosea 10:12 (NLT) – "Plough up the hard ground of your hearts"
• Ezekiel 36:26 (NLT) – "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you"
• Hebrews 3:12-13 (NLT) – Warning against hardened hearts

✅ YOUR NEXT STEP:
Find a quiet moment today. Ask the Holy Spirit: "Show me one piece of hard ground in my heart." Write down whatever comes to mind - don't analyse it, just name it. That's the first turn of the plough.

💬 Encourage others by commenting: "I'm ploughing today"

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📖 ABOUT THIS CHANNEL:
I'm Rob Westwood-Payne, a Salvation Army officer sharing daily Bible devotionals and weekly sermons. Every video offers clear, practical teaching from Scripture, a short prayer, and one action step you can take today. Whether you're a lifelong believer or just exploring faith, this channel is for anyone who wants to grow closer to God through His Word.

#SpiritualGrowth #ChristianDevotional #BibleStudy #Hosea1012 #Ezekiel3626 #FeelingDistantFromGod #HowToGetCloserToGod #ChristianFaith #DailyDevotional #SalvationArmy #RobWest

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