Do a believer practice asceticism?

[Marathoner]

The book of Ezekiel shows forth the promise of the Lord regarding the hardened heart (and much more). 

And I will vindicate the holiness of My great name which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the Lord,” declares the Lord God, “when I show Myself holy among you in their sight. For I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the lands; and I will bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and bring it about that you walk in My statutes, and are careful and follow My ordinances. (Ezekiel 36:23-27 NASB)

[Marathoner]

4 hours ago, leah777 said:

Colossians 2v33 is pointing out that such behaviour, as defined in the above post, is not correct Christian behaviour and does not attain a higher spiritual plane. That is the relevance of the scripture being mentioned.

Well said, sister. We understand that self control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) along with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and gentleness. This is the fruit we bear according to that work of God's Spirit in us, conforming us to the image of the Son from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). 

The asceticism which @PeterR refers to is that work of the flesh which avails nothing. As I wrote previously, this is practiced by unbelievers in their various religions. 

Edited March 4, 2021 by Marathoner

[Marathoner]

5 hours ago, leah777 said:

Ephesians 4 v 17-19 talks about our hearts before we come to know Christ and accept Him as our Saviour, and the hearts of unbelievers. Some translations use the word 'hardened'

This is an excellent response to the question of the hardened heart which the Lord changes when He draws us into Himself. The heart of stone becomes one of flesh (soft) by the work of God. 

[Marathoner]

I have asserted that the Lord blesses neither poverty nor riches alone, for we observe in His creation that there are times of plenty and times of scarcity, a vindication of those words of the Preacher who wrote, "There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NASB).

There was a time when I lived under the roof of my parents' house, and there was a time when I left their house.
There was a time when I was ignorant of the Most High, and a time when the Lord was pleased to reveal Himself to me. 
There was a time when I wandered without a place to rest my head, and a time when the Lord provided me with a home saying, Here is where you shall dwell. 
There was a time when I was healthy and strong, and a time when I wasted away and brought close to death. 
There was a time when I believed that I had failed, and a time when God removed the scales from my eyes so I might see. 

The Lord approves of a good steward, servants who are modest in demeanor and administer what God gives to them wisely. If He gives us poverty then rejoice, for He has spared us from the snare of riches; if the Lord has given us riches (like Job), then rejoice for He has given us the means to materially benefit the fatherless, the widows, the sick, and those in need. 

A passage from my favorite of the Proverbs. 

Two things I have asked of You;
Do not refuse me before I die:
Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,
So that I will not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”
And that I will not become impoverished and steal,
And profane the name of my God.  
(Proverbs 30:7-9 NASB) 

Edited March 4, 2021 by Marathoner
clarity

[Waggles]

7 hours ago, clancy said:

Can you show me the scripture that says.....God takes our hardened heart away?

where does he take it to?

thank you

sorry this is the wrong quote....but you did post those words, can you explain please.

Ezekiel 36:26  And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 11:19  And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 
20  that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

2Cor 3:2  You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 
3:3  And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 

[Guest clancy]

24 minutes ago, Waggles said:

Ezekiel 36:26  And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 11:19  And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, 
20  that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

2Cor 3:2  You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 
3:3  And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 

Brilliant..Amen!

[debrakay]

I am reading Galatians and James right now.  They are all fighting over the topic of circumcision.  Over 2000 years later here we are still are debating this topic.  You'd think an answer would have been found by now.  Oh, that's right!  For some, the answer has been found!! Praise the Lord!!