The above verse is repeated 3 times in Hebrews 3 & 4.

I remember I was at Ps Serene’s house for G12 meeting, which was located near an MRT track.
When the MRT passes, it was very obvious and loud. Then Ps Serene said that she is used to it that it does not bother her anymore. She has been CONDITIONED not to hear the sound of the MRT passing.

Then it brought me to this verse.
When we hear the voice of God and do not obey or respond to it, we actually CONDITION ourselves not to hear the voice of God. We harden our hearts. Sooner or later, we will not hear God.

Is it because God stops speaking to us?
Well, just like the MRT that passes, its volume and noise level NEVER changed – it has always been loud. It is just that we have been CONDITIONED not to hear it.
Even if God is speaking to you as loud as before, but because you have hardened your heart, you have CONDITIONED yourself not to listen to His voice. And that CONDITIONING is likened to “hardening your heart”.

Are there areas in your life where your heart is hardened? And sometimes, you need someone to tell you this.
Have you heard His voice clearly, and decided not to respond to it?
Dont “soften” your heart, change it!!!

“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 3:13