In what ways can we improve our spiritual hearing and sight as believers? A call from Isaiah 42:18 “ ‘Hear, you deaf; look, you blind, that you may see!’ ” Why spiritual senses dull • Lingering sin that clouds conscience (Psalm 66:18; 1 John 1:6) • Competing voices of the world (1 John 2:15-17) • Neglect of the Word that sharpens discernment (Hebrews 5:11-14) Ways to sharpen spiritual hearing • Saturate the heart with Scripture – “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17) – Read aloud, memorize, journal key verses • Cultivate daily stillness – Elijah heard the “gentle whisper” only after the wind, quake, and fire (1 Kings 19:11-12) – Set technology aside; practice moments of silence to tune in to the Spirit’s promptings • Obey promptly – “My sheep listen to My voice … they follow Me” (John 10:27) – Each act of obedience clarifies the next instruction; disobedience muffles it • Guard the intake – Evaluate music, media, and conversations – Philippians 4:8 filter: whatever is true, honorable, just, pure—let these fill the ears Ways to sharpen spiritual sight • Pray for enlightened eyes – Paul’s request: “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened” (Ephesians 1:18) – Ask the Spirit to expose blind spots and reveal Christ’s glory in everyday scenes • Keep the lens clean through confession – Unconfessed sin fogs vision; confession restores clarity (1 John 1:9) • Focus on the unseen eternal – “We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen” (2 Corinthians 4:18) – Meditate on future hope to recalibrate present perspective • Walk by faith, not feelings – Bartimaeus threw off his cloak before his sight returned (Mark 10:50-52) – Act on God’s promises even when circumstances look unchanged Shared disciplines that enhance both senses • Regular fasting—turns down bodily appetites so spiritual receptors open (Matthew 6:16-18) • Corporate worship—God often speaks and reveals Himself in gathered praise (Psalm 73:16-17) • Fellowship with discerning believers—wise counsel sharpens hearing and sight (Proverbs 15:31; 27:17) Living alert Isaiah’s summons is present tense: keep on hearing, keep on seeing. As Scripture saturates the mind, obedience flows from the heart, and fellowship with the Spirit deepens, deafness turns to attentive listening and blindness to clear-eyed faith. |
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