In what ways can we ensure we "listen to the words of the LORD"? Listening—More Than Hearing When Scripture says, “listen to the words of the LORD,” it is calling for attentive, responsive obedience, not passive reception (James 1:22). “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Hebrews 3:15). Cultivating a Responsive Heart • Come with humility. “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at My word” (Isaiah 66:2). • Confess known sin so nothing dulls spiritual hearing (Psalm 66:18). • Ask the Lord to plow hard soil: “Break up your fallow ground” (Hosea 10:12). Daily Immersion in Scripture • Read systematically, not randomly (Acts 17:11). • Trace themes and promises to grasp God’s full counsel (Psalm 119:160). • Keep a journal of commands to obey and truths to trust. Quieting Competing Voices • Set aside regular, undistracted time (Mark 1:35). • Limit media that overwhelms the heart with noise (Psalm 46:10). • Practice silence before and after reading to let truth sink in (Habakkuk 2:20). Submitting in Obedience • Immediate obedience sharpens future hearing (John 14:23–24). • Small steps—apologizing, giving, serving—train ears to recognize His voice (Luke 6:46–49). • Resolve beforehand: “Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:10). Seeking the Spirit’s Guidance • Pray for illumination: “Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law” (Psalm 119:18). • Depend on the Spirit who “will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). • Compare impressions with written Scripture; the Spirit never contradicts the Word (Galatians 1:8). Gathering with God’s People • Hear the Word preached (2 Timothy 4:2). • Discuss Scripture in fellowship; iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17). • Submit to godly counsel that aligns with the Bible (Hebrews 13:17). Memorizing and Meditating • Hide verses in your heart to recall God’s voice anywhere (Psalm 119:11). • Turn passages over in your mind throughout the day (Joshua 1:8). • Use repetition, visualization, and saying the text aloud. Testing What We Hear • Measure every teaching by Scripture’s plain meaning (Acts 17:11). • Look for the fruit of righteousness; true words produce obedience and love (Matthew 7:16–18). • Reject anything that denies Christ’s lordship or contradicts biblical doctrine (1 John 4:1–3). Living Out the Word When we consistently approach Scripture with reverence, clear away distractions, obey promptly, rely on the Spirit, engage with the church, meditate deeply, and test all things, we position ourselves to truly listen to the words of the LORD—and to be transformed by them. |
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