Adamancy— being fixed in one’s thoughts or opinions; obstinacy; stubbornness.

This word adamancy came to mind this week, after talking with a friend.  She was expressing her concerns about someone else’s problems—what they should or should not be doing.  I thought of how she could be handling her own opinions, but didn’t say much because it seemed she was so set in her own thoughts that nothing I said to her would matter.

Then I began to wonder how many times I have been in this same way of thinking—  when my opinions were so set that what anyone else said wouldn’t register with me.

A Stone
One dictionary definition of adamant is that of “a legendary stone.”  The word is used twice in the Old Testament, the word referring to the hardness of a stone, with further reference to the character of a diamond.

After looking up the definition of adamant in Webster’s and online I kept coming back to the thought: Adamancy seems to be the character of Adam, the first man; and the nature of all of his descendants.

With all that God had given Adam and his wife, Eve, and the command against what they shouldn’t have, they were rebellious, stubborn, and unwilling to listen and obey. This is the nature of all men until the Lord gives each of us a new heart.

A New Heart

“I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.”
 (Ezekiel 11:18-20)

This promise was fulfilled when Jesus Christ came to earth, Immanuel—God with us.  He prepared the way for the Spirit of God to come into our lives and to give us a new heart.  The new spirit is His own Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are His children. We cry, “Abba Father” to work in this new heart, desiring that we would be conformed to the image of His dear Son.  (Romans 8:15-16, 28-29)

Dear Father, thank you for your Spirit of truth that brings conviction of my own sins, and by your goodness I ask you to bring me to repentance as often as this is needful.  As you are sanctifying me show me what you and others see that needs to be changed.  Transform me by the renewing of my mind to think your thoughts and to follow hard after Christ. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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