Devotions from Judy’s heart

How good are we at hearing the Lord, especially when going through busy days when we may find it harder to spend quiet time with Him? We say we want to hear His voice, but some days we may rush into our work and only later realize we have neglected time with Him. I have a physical hearing problem, and some days I hurriedly go downstairs to get the mail without wearing my hearing aids. One day a friend stopped me in the noisy hall to ask me a question, but I couldn’t get what she was saying. I tried several times but finally, when I looked directly at her, I could read her lips and understand what she was asking. Perhaps we can at times be like that in a spiritual sense, when our ears are not open with a desire to know what the Lord is saying to us or asking of us.

In Mark 4, Jesus was teaching his disciples about the meaning of the stories he had just told to the crowd about the different types of soil, hiding our lamp, etc. Mark 4:24-25 says, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” When our ears are not open to the Lord, soon even what we have been told can be forgotten.

All of us need listening ears to hear whatever the Lord has to tell us. Sometimes we will hear comforting words as we go through times of sorrow. Other times we may hear convicting words, as He uncovers for us where repentance is needed. Just in the writing of this, the Lord showed me a few verses that I was to pass on to a friend who is in a lot of pain. As I was reading from Isaiah, I felt the Holy Spirit saying to send them on to for her, which I proceeded to do. We never know what the Lord has in mind for us each day, so we are to spend time listening with a receptive ear.

Challenge for today: Ask the Lord to help you be a good listener to His words and give you grace to respond in obedience.

Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy