listen

Listen...a small word with big meaning.  My word for 2017.  The word that God dropped into my spirit for this coming year.  Dictionary.com says this about the word listen...to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; to give ear; to pay attention, heed, obey; to wait attentively for a sound.  I have a lot to learn.

God wants all of us to listen to Him.  To wait attentively with the intent of hearing Him.  To pay attention and heed and obey what He speaks to us.  I will confess that I usually come to God with my list of concerns, but I don't take the time to wait quietly to hear what He has to say to me.  My spirit longs to hear Him, and I intend to practice sitting quietly at His feet and listening to His wisdom.  I find it interesting that part of the definition of listen is to obey.  I definitely need some practice on that one, but that is another blog.  I am convinced that if we would take the time to listen to our Father God and then obey Him, we would avoid the frustrations that plague our days.

That being said, it is important for us to realize that God is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to listen to us.  So many of us have felt alone, hopeless, and depressed at some point in our lives.  The enemy lies to us that no one cares and no one will listen and we listen to him and believe the lies. (Another facet of listening...knowing to whom we should listen!  Watch for that in another blog!)  God will listen any time, day or night, and He more than cares...He loves us so much that He sent His only son, Jesus, to the world to bring us back into relationship with Him.

One of the greatest gifts we can give to each other is listening.  Attentively and intentionally listening.  Listening with a goal to hear what is being said with words and what is being said with expressions and actions.  I'm going to be intentional about listening to my family and friends with undivided attention and my mouth closed.  Listening to learn and to love, not listening to respond.

There's a time for speaking and a time for listening.  I'll be doing both this year, but if you need someone to listen, I'd be delighted to!