Required Listening

            You’ve heard of required reading.  They are the books and articles that are necessary to read for doing well in a class.  If we are to do well in prayer, listening to the Holy Spirit is required.  Part of that listening is necessary when we come to the Lord in prayer, but the time outside of our “prayer” time might be even more important to develop our listening skills.  As we are reading the Bible, we must be listening to the Spirit and asking, “What are You saying to me?”  We must be listening to the Spirit in the daily activities of our lives.  This takes discipline.  This takes work, and if we are going to hear from the Lord we can’t shy away from this work.  This work is not for the purpose of gaining God’s attention or his favor.  Its purpose is to submit our spirit to His Spirit.  It is to come under His influence and to turn away from self-influence. 

            How do we learn these things?  Many times these lessons are learned through trial and error.  However, we can speed up our learning curve by having a teachable spirit.  This teachable spirit was modeled for us by King David who wrote these words.  “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24, NIV)  A listening spirit is ready to receive God’s thoughts and willing to allow God’s searchlight to penetrate the heart.  For most people this is not easy.  That’s why it’s hard work.  The hard work is being willing to say to God, “It’s ok to mess with me and do whatever you need to do.”  It involves trusting God in the real world of our daily lives.  The benefits of listening to God are many, but perhaps the best one is simply hearing His voice.  This was what Adam and Eve needed in the garden.  For us today the potential of hearing His voice is a daily thing.  Are you ready to listen?