When I was in High School for my final exam in Speech Class I was given the topic of hearing or listening, how to effectively communicate.
Hearing is the collection of auditory information. Listening requires us to focus on what we hear and gain knowledge and understanding.
Listen…Stop right now and listen for 10 seconds.
If you’re anything like me you’re morning starts with the sound of the coffee pot, the hum of the computer fan and a myriad of other noises all competing for your attention. I am blessed to live in a rural area where there are no sounds of traffic, sirens, planes or other such noises. I hear the birds, the coyotes and sometimes the javelina rooting for their morning feed.
But it hasn’t always been that way. I know what it’s like to wake to the alarm clock. Have kids that need to get up, be fed and taken to school on my way to the office in the busy traffic. Radio’s playing, tv spilling the morning news, emails to read, FB to check in on – so much noise.
When you stopped to listen did you hear the voice of God? I love hearing Him speak into my heart!
When I wake up each morning I say “I love you Father, I love you Jesus, I love you Holy Spirit” and then I hear that inner voice say “We love you too”. WOW!!
“Be quiet and know that I am God. I will be honored among the nations. I will be honored in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 NLV
Folks spend much of their time looking for the big, the spectacular, the miraculous and they miss the simple, the still small voice of God as He calls to them.
How many times have you heard someone say, “I knew I shouldn’t have done that” or “It just dawned on me” or “I was just thinking about that very thing”. We often don’t realize that God is trying to get through to us.
Samuel was a young boy when his parents took him to live with Eli, the priest. He had been dedicated to God since his birth. One night while Samuel was sleeping he heard his name being called. Samuel thought it was Eli.
“…Samuel did not yet know the Lord because the Lord had not spoken directly to him before. 8 The Lord called Samuel the third time. Again Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called me.” Finally, Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Eli told Samuel, “Go to bed. If he calls you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord. I am your servant, and I am listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. 10 The Lord came and stood there. He called as he did before, saying, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel said, “Speak. I am your servant, and I am listening.” I Samuel 3:7-10 ERV
The most important thing we’ll hear each day, if we listen, will be the voice of the Lord.
Sssssh – just listen!
