Listening is essential to our relationship to God. The Hebrew word for listen is SHEMA. In Hebrew culture, there is an expectation to respond to what one hears. It was a listen AND obey scenario. Listen AND act. In fact, in ancient Hebrew, there is no separate word for listen and obey- they were just two sides of the same coin.
In today’s passage in Isaiah, we see what happens not only when we listen, but also when we don’t listen. What’s the cost of not listening to God? Abiding peace and intimate relationship with Him. But God is a God of redeeming grace. He has hope for us and a better plan for us.
When we DO listen to God, we experience a new thing- joy and peace that lasts. How do we do that? Accepting Jesus as Lord of our lives is the first step. Next is a daily commitment to listen to God. James 1:22-25 encourages us to digest, understand, and obey the word of God. Jesus, our Good Shepherd trains us to listen to His voice. Henri Nouwen says that, “Jesus’ life was a life of obedience. He was always listening to the Father, always attentive to his voice, always alert for his directions. Jesus was ‘all ear.’ THAT is true prayer: being all ear for God. The core of all prayer is indeed listening, obediently standing in the presence of God.
How can we listen every day?
- Pray for others
- Study God’s word
- Serve others
“Listening is a form of spiritual hospitality by which you invite strangers to become friends…” Henri Nouwen
“A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realized that prayer listening.” Soren Kierkegaard
When we begin to listen, it becomes easier to hear that faint, small voice. God is always there. We always have a chance to listen to Him.
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