Symptoms of the Backslidden Heart
Ezekiel 36:26
"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."
When a person gets right with God, it is a beautiful thing. To see a person change from running from God to a person who walks with God is great. To see them go from God's judgment to God's blessings is exciting. The verse above shows us what happens to a person who gets right with God. However, if you apply the opposite of these attributes, you find the symptoms of a backslidden heart. Let me show you what these symptoms are.
First, a backslidden person goes back to a worldly heart. God said that He would give them a "new heart." In other words, the person who is backslidden becomes more excited about the things of the world than they do the things of God. A backslidden person gradually loses interest in the things of God. The world has more of a lure to the backslidden person than serving God. The heart of a backslidden person will lean towards worldly affairs.
Second, a backslidden person will have a bad spirit. Notice, God gives the person who gets right a "new spirit." When you are backslidden, you will think everyone is against you. When you are backslidden, your attitude is about you and not about others. When you are backslidden, your attitude is not one of excitement, but one of complaining. Simply put, the backslidden person has an attitude problem.
Third, a backslidden person will have a hard heart. God says that when a person gets right that He "will take away the stony heart...and give you an heart of flesh." It is amazing how uncaring the backslidden person is. The backslidden person is never moved by those who are hurting. The backslidden person has no compassion for people whom they do not know. In fact, a backslidden person rarely ever shows emotion. A backslidden person will never show emotion in a church service. A backslidden person will not be excited when people get saved. A backslidden person does not think it is that big of a deal when someone comes back to God. The reason is they have a hard heart.
Fourth, a backslidden person will walk in the flesh and not in the Spirit. God says that when a person gets right that He will "put my spirit within you." When you are backslidden, you will never ask the Holy Spirit to fill you. When you are backslidden, there is minimal time spent seeking the power of God. A backslidden person can be serving God, but they are too busy to stop and spend time begging for God's power.
Finally, a backslidden person will not be concerned with obeying the Word of God. God says that when a person gets right they will "walk in my statutes." The backslidden person will come to the point when they feel they can do wrong and get away with it. It is amazing how bold they become about their sin. Their sin never bothers them because they feel God will never judge them.
Let me ask you, do you have any symptoms of a backslidden heart? Serving God does not have to be a drudge, it can be exciting. Don't be one of those who simply exists in the Christian life. If your heart is right with God, then you will find that the things of God are exciting and enjoyable. Yes, there will still be heartache, but you will still find pleasure in serving God. However, if you find any of these symptoms in your heart, then immediately deal with it so that it won't go any further in destroying your walk with God.