Daily Encouragement: Ears to Hear

When I sit down to read or study the Bible, even before I open the cover, I often ask the question, "Lord, what do you want to say to me this morning?" Sometimes I sit in silence waiting to hear something, sometimes I have my journal out and begin writing, and other times I ask to be directed to a passage of scripture.

God speaks to His children in many different ways, and when we don't hear Him speak in the way we expect, we can get frustrated and disappointed and even feel inferior to those that say they do hear Him. But Jesus said that we would recognize His voice:

"I assure you, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! For a shepherd enters through the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice. They won't follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don't recognize his voice." (John 10:1-5)

So is it that we have just not learned what it means to listen? I liken this to a true musician. Either by gifting or years of practice, a musician is able to hear aspects of music that most of us non-musicians cannot even detect because our ears have not been trained. So then the question is how do we become trained to recognize His voice?

Here's my opinion and experience in this: spend time with Him.

Spend time reading His word, asking for Him to speak through the scriptures. Spend time in prayer, praising Him for who He is, confessing your sin, seeking His wisdom and guidance and help, listening and watching for His answers. Spend time meditating on a verse or passage, dwelling on it. Spend time with other believers, especially those that share how God is speaking to them and listen--God uses all of these ways to speak to His children, and we will recognize Him if we will take time getting to know Him and take time to look for Him and listen for His voice.

Precious sister, don't give up the desire to hear from Him, don't give up believing He will speak to you--lean in and develop your relationship with the Father by spending time with Him and watch and listen for Him intently as you do.


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