Listen Up

We hear so much noise on any given day. The sound of the car, the television playing in the background, our music stylings, even the sound of conversations around us. But how often do we really listen? There is a difference between hearing and listening. Ask any of our closest relationships. We may hear the words that are being said, but how many times do we really listen to the meaning of the words and understand what the person is trying to say. There are so many other things trying to grab our attention. Especially in the 24/7 media cycle, unyielding social media, and round the clock radio. The problem becomes amplified more so when the conversation turns to hearing from God. It feels like there is so much noise around us that we can’t distinguish the voice of our Creator. My schedule is unrelenting. My kids need my attention. I’m exhausted and just want to relax. When are we supposed to find the time to listen to God?

Yet we think that this is a new issue. The reality is that we’ve been facing this problem for a very long time. As humans, we tend to listen when we want to. As well known evangelist Charles Spurgeon once remarked, if the sound of money to be earned was calling for our attention, we’d listen. Many times we’d be all ears. Yet, as Spurgeon went on, hearing the voice of God sometimes seems impossible. It’s even harder if we don’t work at it. The prophet Isaiah also dealt with the same issue when addressing the people of Israel. He recorded the words of God saying, incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David (Isaiah 55:3 ESV).

The phrase here to “incline your ear” is to lean in attentively to what’s being said. To truly put your attention on the speaker. In this case, to listen up to the voice of God so that we might live. It takes effort. It takes time. It takes presence. Not just to hear alongside all the other sounds that come into our lives each day, but to spend the time in the presence of God to grow the relationship we have with Him. The more we grow, the easier it will be for us to understand His voice. We know this to be true because we see it in our daily relationships. The more we get to know someone, the easier it will be to understand the things they say. And more importantly, the things that are unsaid. We begin to understand mannerisms, shrugs of the shoulders, even the single syllable responses. The same truth can be applied to hearing from God. The more time we spend with Him, the easier it will be to understand. Spurgeon went on to say that we should think about divine matters as God sets them before you (Charles Spurgeon, God’s Own Gospel Call, 1889). Don’t pass over moments with God too quickly. Think about them. Discuss them. Spend the time hearing the world of God and listen up.