Learning to Listen
When I was a young mother the ladies group at my church decided to raise money by selling handmade goods at a Christmas bazaar in our local mall. So, being the artsy person that I am, I set out one morning to create a few unique ornaments. I had so much fun all that day pouring my heart and soul into these beautiful little baubles. After many hours of ignoring most of my other responsibilities (ie. cooking and cleaning) I was pretty excited about my finished projects. When my husband came home from work I couldn’t wait for him to ooh and ahh over my artwork.
I shouldn’t have been surprised when my business major/computer programming/financial expert/super efficient husband wasn’t as thrilled as I was. He even had the audacity to say, “You spent all day on those? I’d rather we just donate cash and not have you wasting your time on stuff like this!” And then he calmly walked downstairs to his office.
He wasn’t saying it to be mean. It just came from the depths of his practical nature. And I reacted from the depths of my artistic nature. I fumed in anger and deep hurt. Squeezing back tears, I practiced over and over many hurtful responses as I fixed supper and dealt with fussy kids. Boy, was I mad!
And in the middle of my angry thoughts, one single, very clear sentence cut through like a knife cutting through butter. “I have made you the way you are for a reason, but not to cause strife between you and Steve.”
I was paralyzed! All my thoughts and actions came to a dead stop as I heard those distinct words. I knew without a doubt that God had just spoken to me and I needed to pay very close attention. His words went in a completely different direction than my thoughts and actions were taking me. It was as if He grabbed me by the shoulders, gave me a gentle shake and turned me around.
Now, after having lived several decades as a child of God and having been friends with many Christians who know God’s Word and care about living Biblically, I can say with confidence that God does speak to His people. And He speaks to us in a myriad of ways. Our part is to listen and so often we don't because we don't expect to hear anything from Him.
How does He speak to us? The primary way is through His Word. Everything that we hear from preachers, speakers, friends, and our own thoughts have to be filtered through God's Word. They must be birthed from the womb of Scripture and be bathed in worship. If they’re not, then be suspicious, very suspicious. If they don't line up with the Bible then we need to discard them quickly.
God may speak to us through a sermon, a friend, a spouse, a book, an event, a moment in nature, a song, a work of art. It may come as distinct words or simply as an impression deep in our spirit. Often, for me, it’s not words as much as a strong sense of His love for me, or His power or His Glory while I am driving through the countryside worshipping Him and enjoying His creation.
We’ll hear Him if we pay attention.
That is the key. Pay attention. If we truly believe on any given day that He may actually speak to us then we're more attuned to His voice. And if we believe He will speak to us in a myriad of ways then it's rather exciting. It becomes an adventure. I mean, after all, the Creator of the universe speaking to one of his little creatures?
“When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3,4)
God makes it pretty clear that He desires to speak to us. An entire book could be written about the thousands of instances in the Bible where God speaks to His children. Also, He promises that He will continue to do so. But again, it must be birthed from the womb of God’s Word, the Bible. I can point out many people who are following a path entirely outside of God’s truth because they don’t know what the Bible teaches.
I asked my husband how God speaks to him and he quickly answered, “Through my gut.” I thought he was joking but he went on to explain a recent incident where he loudly complained to the referees at a basketball game he was coaching. As soon as the game was over he had a gut reaction that this is not how a child of God should act. Many people would call this a check in their spirit or conviction by the Holy Spirit. My husband was obedient to God’s voice in this instance by sending emails to both refs apologizing for his actions.
I notice that I shut down my listening ears when I'm stressed or bothered by anything. My focus can very easily be on my sickness or pain or unwelcome circumstances instead of on God. I also don’t listen well when I have an agenda; when I’m looking for specific answers to specific problems. I believe God speaks most clearly when our full attention is on Him and not on what He can do for us.
But then again, both of my stories show God cutting through our distracted sin nature and making Himself be heard. He is God after all and He can speak to us in any way He chooses.
As for me, I want to be listening and obedient. Immersed in His word and continually worshipping the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
How about you?
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” (Jeremiah 33:3)
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” (Psalm 32:8)
“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16,17)
