Listen Carefully
I have worked for several years at becoming a good listener. I believe listening is a skill that can be learned. I’m reminded that the Lord gave me two ears and one mouth so that I should listen twice as much as I speak. Often when I should be listening, I’m preparing an eloquent or timely response. I really need to simply listen carefully prior to responding. I love this passage in Jeremiah where the Lord speaks and Jeremiah acts upon the Lord’s direction to him. Check this out….
This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a linen belt and put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water.” 2 So I bought a belt, as the Lord directed, and put it around my waist.
3 Then the word of the Lord came to me a second time: 4 “Take the belt you bought and are wearing around your waist, and go now to Perath[ and hide it there in a crevice in the rocks.” 5 So I went and hid it at Perath, as the Lord told me.
6 Many days later the Lord said to me, “Go now to Perath and get the belt I told you to hide there.” 7 So I went to Perath and dug up the belt and took it from the place where I had hidden it, but now it was ruined and completely useless.
10 These wicked people, who refuse to listen to my words, who follow the stubbornness of their hearts and go after other gods to serve and worship them, will be like this belt—completely useless! 11 For as a belt is bound around the waist, so I bound all the people of Israel and all the people of Judah to me,’ declares the Lord, ‘to be my people for my renown and praise and honor. But they have not listened.’ (Jeremiah 13:1-7;10-11 NIV)
I believe that the Lord still speaks and directs my path today. I believe that He speaks and prompts acts of kindness and teachable moments into my life all the time. My role is to tune in and listen for His voice. I believe He also speaks through His Word right into my life. I would be wise to listen carefully to each passage to hear just what His Spirit wants to speak into my life.
I want to have the courage to listen and act upon whatever He speaks into my life. Whether it means giving, listening, taking a detour, whatever – I want to have the courage to listen and obey.
Pressing On!
Dwayne