What did God use to soften your heart?

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What did God use to soften your heart? I was reading about Moses this morning when he and his brother Aaron went to Pharaoh and God had them perform signs to lead Pharaoh to let God's people go. For example, Aaron's staff turned into a snake. Well, to Pharaoh, the snake would have had significance and would have caused him to pay attention because a snake is deeply associated with their Egyptian gods. Historians also said that Pharaoh would have been wearing this crown that had a snake on it because it was so significant. Now, did this soften Pharaoh's heart to get him to pay attention? Well, it did get him to pay attention enough because the Bible says, "Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts. Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But, Aaron's staff, his snake, swallowed up their staffs, their snakes. Yet, Pharaoh's heart became hard and he would not listen to them just as the Lord had said." So, God shows up in a sign presenting himself to Pharaoh. Pharaoh notices, he's intrigued, but then reasons it away because he found other people I could do the same thing. So, that got me thinking, are there times where God presented himself to me, but I missed it because I just reasoned it away? I think of times when I was little and I'd be in extreme pain and I'd cry out to God, "Promise I'd do things if you just make it better." Then the pain would subside, then I'd reason it away, "That wasn't God." And then never keep those promises. So, it got me thinking, is that what Pharaoh was doing? For example, another plague, God used Aaron and Moses to send frogs everywhere. And it was so annoying that even though Pharaoh's magicians were able to do the same thing, Pharaoh had enough. Summoned Aaron and Moses and said, "Pray to the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the Lord." Saying, "I will do this thing if you take this away from me." And so, God gets rid of the frogs, but then it says, "When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron just as the Lord had said." I used to think I could never relate to Pharaoh. Why wouldn't he just listen to God? But then this morning I felt convicted, I definitely used to do that. And we know after lots more signs, Pharaoh eventually concedes, lets the people go, but then changes his mind again and ends up killing him and his army. But thankfully, that hasn't happened to us. There was a moment where God softened our hearts and we repented, which simply means to change direction. For me, God used my failed relationships to soften my heart. Every time things got rocky with someone, I'd make all these promises to God to fix it and it never worked out. Well, eventually, while I was single, I got to this place where instead of saying, "If you do this, then I'll do that." I simply said, "God, what do you want me to do? No strings attached. I'll just do it." And then randomly, through a sermon I listened to and then confirmed from another friend the same week, God gave me the idea to not kiss until my wedding day. No idea if or when that would ever happen, but I had tried it my own way so many times and it failed that I just submitted to the idea of trying it God's way. Now, I've shared this story before on the channel. God used that commitment of submitting to him to not only lead me to my perfect wife, but it gave me a hunger for wanting to trust him with all areas of my life. I don't know if we ever can fully, but he softened my heart to try to trust him more every day. And I'd love to hear how he did that for you. What did God use to soften your heart? Let's keep praying for each other, friends. God bless.