“Learn to listen!” Wow! Those words strike a chord in my personal library of life’s memories. How about you? With gentle, loving firmness, I first heard these words from my mother as she guided me through the maze of childhood obedience. Soon after, as I began to grow in age, I would hear a little more firmness in my dad’s voice, though not in anger. Now, my teenage years; I cannot deny that I heard those words a little sharper on occasion.
In my military years those words of meaningful instruction often changed in format, but generally had similar meaning: “Be aware of what’s goin’ on!” “Listen up!” “Don’t anticipate the command!” “At my command!” “Pay attention to my command!”
To learn to listen is the military was life and death in many situations. Those years taught me the value of knowing, and hearing, my commander’s voice. My mind is suddenly flooded with memories that connect with that last statement, but I will keep them to myself.
“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)
In the Christian life, it is by far of more value to learn to listen for and to the voice of God, Who is your Commander, both in His Word, and in intimate relationship praying, of which “praying without ceasing” and “watch and pray”, is great benefit. To learn to listen takes determined effort on the part of each individual believer, which should also affect the church in powerful ways.
If we do not hear, by recognition, the voice of God we will likely hear and follow the evil one’s voice without realizing until too late. Satan, through his demonic world, makes every attempt to confuse or overpower God’s voice in our minds. If we will not recognize God’s voice readily we may be tempted to fall for the wiles of the devil. That’s the why; let’s look at the how.
The good news is that God has designed our mind/brain so that we can learn to hear what we deem or believe to be important to us. For example, take a new mother. On the first night at home with the new born child, mommy determines in her mind that it is extremely important to her to listen for noises of any measure of distress coming from the crib. She will hear them all. The new daddy, not nearly the same concern to hear.
On the opposite side of the learning to train your mind, you also have the ability to shut out, or tune out, the things you deem of no benefit to you, even some sounds of annoyance. Both of these abilities require you to make decisions about what is of most importance to you. God created you with the ability, but you must make the right choices, and put out the effort to succeed.
Read the Word; listen for the Spirit. Pray; listen for the Spirit. Learn to Listen! Pray On!
