How can we "incline your ears" to God's teachings in our daily lives? Psalm 78:1 – The Invitation to Listen “Give ear, O my people, to my teaching; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.” Why Inclining the Ear Matters • Scripture is God’s inerrant, literal Word; when He speaks, His people respond. • Listening honors the covenant relationship: “Incline your ear and come to Me; listen, that your soul may live.” (Isaiah 55:3) • A heart that hears becomes a life that obeys, and obedience brings blessing (James 1:22–25). Practical Ways to Incline Our Ears Daily • Set an appointment with the Word – Unhurried, scheduled reading each day (Psalm 1:2). – Begin or end the day with a gospel-saturated passage. • Hear the Word audibly – Play an audio Bible while commuting; “faith comes by hearing” (Romans 10:17). – Read aloud as families so children also incline their ears (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). • Meditate and memorize – Write one verse on a card, repeat it at meals or breaks (Proverbs 2:1-2). – Turn the words over in your mind until they flavor every thought. • Journal responsive obedience – Note what God shows you and the step you will take today (Psalm 119:60). • Submit immediately – When Scripture confronts, act—delayed obedience erodes hearing (John 14:23). • Gather with the church – Prioritize preaching, singing, and fellowship (Hebrews 10:25). Collective listening sharpens individual listening. • Seek counsel anchored in Scripture – “Listen to counsel and accept instruction” (Proverbs 19:20). Guarding the Ear Gate • Turn down competing noise: constant news, social media, cynical voices. • Test every teaching by the whole counsel of God, like the Bereans (Acts 17:11). • Choose music, podcasts, and entertainment that reinforce, not dull, spiritual hearing. Signs We Are Truly Listening • Quicker repentance and softer hearts (Hebrews 3:15). • Growing love for God and neighbor (Matthew 22:37-39). • Consistent obedience in everyday choices (Luke 6:46-49). • Passing truth naturally to the next generation (Psalm 78:4). Promises Attached to Attentive Listening • Divine guidance: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.” (Psalm 32:8) • Deep peace: “Oh, that you had paid attention to My commands! Then your peace would have been like a river.” (Isaiah 48:18) • Lasting fruit: “The seed on good soil stands for those… who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” (Luke 8:15) Inclining the ear is a daily, deliberate posture—turning toward God’s voice with expectation, removing distractions, and acting on what He says. As we do, His living Word shapes our thoughts, guides our steps, and fills our homes with truth. |
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