Listening

This is a guest blog entry from my Dad.  He is far wiser than me, and he says more with far fewer words...

Of the many struggles I battle, none may be more ingrained and easily dismissed or ignored than a lack of ability or desire to listen …….. to be engaged. My standard is to go to God’s Word and use it as my “comfort blanket” to seek God’s direction. This takes most of the onus off of me and places it upon God’s Word to “speak” to me. Am I free to disengage during much of the rest of my day by zoning out (spiritually) and not being perceptive of God’s unlimited means of communication? God is not limited to communication only by His Word.

If you are God’s child, you are indwelt by His Holy Spirit. Why? Jesus came to redeem. Why 33 years? We, like sheep have gone (and are continually) astray and need guidance. Are we seeking it? Are we asking God for it? Or are we our own Garmin and we ask God to bless our chosen path…… not His?

Does wisdom come by talking or listening? Which do I desire to do? Which am I good at? Which do I value more in others? How many blessings do I miss because I don’t listen (or ponder or perceive)?

This world showers us with “noise”. Most of it has little value and probably harms because it dulls my spiritual ears to the gentle whispering voice within, or God’s communications thru His Word, His messengers (of old and today), His ambassadors (our brothers and sisters in Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:20), his creation, and circumstances.

God didn’t find pleasure in the Israelites “sacrifices”. His pleasure was in their obedience (Hosea 6:6). If God is communicating and I am not listening, is that obedience? Am I missing the richness and fullness of the relationship because I have dull or untrained spiritual ears?

What a gift to others when we are fully engaged (listening) to what they have to communicate. We validate their worth to us. Worship is an “expression of reverence”. How better can we “worship” our Lord than to listen to Him? To allow our Shepherd to guide. Jesus said His sheep know His voice (John 10:24). Do we recognize our Savior’s voice?

A newborn doesn’t learn to speak its parents’ language without listening (and observing). I don’t want to speak man’s version of God’s language. I want to listen to my heavenly Father’s language and speak as I hear. God doesn’t speak to the flesh, but to our spirit. In our carnal or natural natures, it is too easy for our souls to listen to the direction of our flesh nature rather than the God directed spirit.

My desire today is to listen to my God and my Savior and to filter all the distractions ……. which principally is myself! What joy and blessings await!!! Praise God!