How do we fulfill the commands in Matthew 22:34-39 to love God?And to love others? Listen to God. Listen to others.
Our Heavenly Father has a message that we have each been called to hear, but are you listening? Amid the noisy world we live in, listening has become a lost art. We know that “anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand” (NLT). But how should we listen? What is God saying?
We may not hear from a burning bush like Moses, but we can hear His voice through His Word, through nature, through Christian brothers and sisters, even through silence... But again, the question we must ask ourselves is, “Are we listening?”
Devotion to God is a high priority for listening. When we are devoted to Him, we give Him our attention—full and undivided. Devotion implies dedication, admiration, and time—all elements needed as we engage in deeper relationship with our Father and fulfill our calling to listen.
Through these 40 days of devotion, we will explore and experience listening to God, and to others, in a variety of ways.
Each week will present a different focus for our listening exer-cises. Some days’ activities will resonate deep within your soul, issuing echoes of God’s voice. Other practices of listening may fall on deaf ears. No matter what your reaction or your initial impression, I encourage you to keep listening.
Each day brings an opportunity to open our heart, soul, mind, and strength to what we need to hear. You will be encouraged, challenged, blessed, and even tested. Keep listening.
God has so much He wants to tell us, so much to share, guide, and remind. Are you listening?
Week 1: Listening to the Good Shepherd
Week 2: Listening to the Creator
Week 3: Listening to the Father
Week 4: Listening to the Son
Week 5: Listening to the Holy Spirit
Week 6: Listening through the five senses
There will be Daily Listening Exercises to be done individually. We call them exercises because they stretch our spiritual muscles and train us in the discipline of listening.
Weekly Reflections will be shared in the context of community, with your Iron Rose Sisters (Christian sisters that serve as iron sharpening iron, encouraging and inspiring one another to be as beautiful as a rose, in spite of a few thorns).
Thank you for joining us the devotion to listening.
We would love to hear from you! Please share with us what you are hearing and how you are growing in your devotion to listening.
This blog post is taken from the book Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion. To order a copy of this book, please visit our website and invite a friend to participate in the study with you. The book includes additional guides and questions to be reviewed in a small group context weekly.