Day 9 of Lent: Listening
Perhaps you have seen the quote which urges you to “Listen to understand, not simply to respond.” In other words – Be present and truly listen to the words they’re saying. I must admit that I’ve been guilty of not fully listening because so often we want to make sure that we give good answer and we don’t fully listen to everything that is being said to us.
As much as that is true in every aspect of our earthly life, our verse for today reminds us that it is even more true when it comes to listening to God. “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24).
It is one thing to simply let words (especially God’s words) “pass through” our ears. It is something completely different to “hears these words…and puts them into practice.” I remember a prayer which was used in church when I was growing up which asked that we “read, learn and inwardly digest them.” Many years later that has stuck with me. Taking God’s Word so seriously that we “inwardly digest” it means that we are listening and striving to put into practice what we have heard.
Don’t give up on listening – listening to those in your earthly life, but especially make sure you are clearly listening to God in his Word and looking to put it into practice in your life!