Hearing and listening. They aren't the same thing. We can hear before we listen. Listening is intentional. And the difference is important because the whole idea of listening is inherent in developing a deep life of faith.
The admonition to listen is everywhere in the Old Testament - The Israelites are told to listen to God over and over, to listen to their prophets, and to listen to their king. Samuel presents himself to God by telling Him, "Speak, Lord, your servant listens." Psalms and Proverbs, the pleas and the wisdom, all include God and His servants listening. And of course, Jesus ends many parables with the final thought, "He who has ears, let him hear."
And you know why?
Because God is always calling.
And we are not always listening.
Instead, we're usually talking.
"God, I pray for this."
"God, please do that."
"God, why did you do (or allow) this?"
We just need to shut up once in awhile. If there are answers to these questions, they are not in the noise of prayers or even of worship. They are in that still, small voice we keep talking about but rarely heed. They are in the silence because in silence is communion and, in communion, few answers are required.
Oswald Chambers said, "The call of God is like the call of the sea. No one hears it but the one who has the nature of the sea in him."
He who has ears for God will hear Him.
Image: dreamstime
No comments:
Post a Comment