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Listen while you read: "O That Will Be Glory"1 (Lyrics) |
The opening speaker at the health-related seminar that I recently attended, an 80-something-year-old, had an engaging and animated manner of speaking, and the audience was clearly connecting with her. The second speaker, however, though much younger, spoke with a slight accent. I had trouble at first understanding this speaker, and I missed a fair amount of what she said during the first few minutes. To my surprise, however, before long, I realized that I was understanding her much better. I was becoming accustomed to her vowel sounds, her tones, her inflection, and her cadence, and I was easily understanding everything that she was saying.
Was this some sort of linguistic miracle that had taken place? No. For one thing, I was making a concerted effort to listen carefully in order to understand what the speaker was saying. In addition, I was becoming accustomed to the sound and rhythm of her speech and was able to automatically make the necessary mental adjustments to allow for an accent that I wasn't used to.
When God spoke one night to young Samuel, the boy was at first mystified, not knowing Who was speaking to him. Eli understood the gravity of what was happening, however, and told Samuel that it was God Who was speaking. This time, Samuel listened carefully and understood the message.
1 Samuel 3:10 – And the Lord came and called as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel replied, "Speak, your servant is listening." (NLT)
God rarely speaks to us in an audible voice, but He clearly delivers His message to us through His Word, the Bible. He may also speak to us inaudibly through clear thoughts and impressions, or through undeniable — if intangible — ways of directing our paths. It is vital that we have open ears and hearts to hear God's voice so that we can follow His ways, honouring and pleasing Him. As we read His Word, we must carefully focus our thoughts, intently seeking to hear God's voice. Just as it took time for me to become accustomed to our speaker's way of speaking, so it may take time for us to grow deep and strong in God's ways as we continue to follow Him over our lifetime. The longer we listen to and heed His voice, the more we will recognize and understand it.
John 10:27 – My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. (NLT)
Actions for us to take:
- 1. Learn to hear and identify God's voice through prayer and careful and intentional reading of Scripture.
2. Strengthen and sharpen our "listening" ears through repeated obedience over our lifetime.
Prayer: O Lord, You speak to us in many ways, both through Your Word, the Bible, and through Your prompting in our inner being. May our spiritual ears be attuned to Your voice so that we can listen and obey. Amen.
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Sunday, December 3, 2023 – IIn the Middle East — We have been walking with a brother, R, from a closed country, who has recently returned with his wife, H. and their older children. We had never met his wife before, but she had shown interest in faith as her husband often shares with her his new beliefs. Praise the Lord, my wife led H to Christ upon her arrival. Please pray for her growth and for them as a couple, that they will have the courage and wisdom to share with their children.
Prayer: "Update December 03, 2023: Please continue to pray for her to put her trust in the Lord and to live..." 
Amen, Gail.
Bang on Gail. Blessings.
Thank you for today’s message, Gail!
I am listening intently.
Blessings!
Amen and thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us.
Blessings.
Sometimes we make too much noise … it is important to listen. Thanks for your insight.
Have a wonderful day!
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today. May our prayer today be: “Speak Lord for your servant is listening.” Then May we willingly obey. Blessings.
Dear Gail,
Thank you so much for your beautifully written and beautifully inspiring devotional. It really touched me!
Thank you for your message. It has helped me immensely as I have had questions regarding how I can really know something has come from God as I don’t hear his voice loud and clear as I felt I should.
Hi Gail, This was an interesting devotional about tuning our ears. It reminded me about other kinds of tuning, like tune ups for a car or tuning pianos. God is the master spiritual “tune-up specialist” when we turn to Him! Tune my heart to sing His praise! Thanks for stimulating my thoughts about His tuning in my life.
Thanks, Gail, for another of your mindful devotionals. Yes, we never know exactly in which ways the Lord speaks to us. Sometimes it seems through actions and sometimes through connections with other people or some scripture that really stands out. It is so important that we read and heed His word for sure. Blessings for your special writings.
Hi Gail,
God speaks to me every day through these devotionals.
And recently at a ladies Bible study I was attending, one lady suggested that to keep focus that we actually read the Bible out loud.
Thank you for writing what you write.
(ON)
Gail,
Thank you for your devotional. Something stood out for me that you wrote. ‘ Strengthen and sharpen our “listening” ears through repeated obedience over our lifetime.’
This struck me, if I’m not obedient, God will not be speaking to me. Unless it’s a warning.
Thank you again.
Good morning, Gail,
This is a great message that took me awhile to learn on my faith journey. I struggled with the wording in the King James version of the Bible when I was younger. I think because I didn’t really value His Word. God has put and is putting people in my path to help me understand the value of His Word. I now understand the value of having my “spiritual ears” working.
Thanks for sharing your experience at the conference and how it relates to your faith. Blessings.
Thank you, Gail. Excellent advice.
We feel God’s presence when we pray.