How To Listen To God

6-5-2022
So after my time with God that morning last week I started the rest of the day, at peace, with a goal to just shine my light, to be Tashmyn, a representer of Christ. So I did, and continued. I listened to friends venting, I gave my opinion when they asked for advice or gave a motivating word when they were feeling down, I’ve been reassuring clients, their family and friends, just making people see the glass half full, see the positive side, encourage to not give up yet, that we’re or they’re not done yet. And that I am here for them whenever they need me.

Don’t get me wrong, sitting still has been hard. It sounds easy, but even trying to understand what sitting still means is a challenge. Ok, I got it that I sit still in the situation with that other party, but how do I sit still when my own party starts to talk and starts conversations and venting moments again. I wasn’t sure if I say totally nothing about it, just nod along or say just a liiittle bit.. Well I did the latter, three times. And every time I tried to reflect, “Was that ok?” No. It was not. Shut up, Tashmyn. After the ‘slip ups’ I did continue the conversation nodding along and positively supporting what they were saying, “You’re right, it’s not OK.”

On the third day (you know I love this) I started my time with God again, prayed and asked for insight and understanding of the Word I’m about to read and of what to do when I meet the other party today. Do I still sit still, stay quiet, say nothing. Wait and listen first to what they will say if they even say something? “Father, please guide me, show me what to do. Show me if I need to say something and if so, show me what to say. Touch my mouth Lord. Speak for me Holy Spirit.”

I finish my prayer and then start reading the bible in Luke chapter 8.

Luke‬ ‭8:16-18‬ ‭[HCSB‬‬] – Using Your Light
““No one, after lighting a lamp, covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in may see its light. For nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and come to light. Therefore take care how you listen. For whoever has, more will be given to him; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.””

Take care how you listen. Both for listening to my own party and also to listening to the other party. Because before I meet the other party I will first meet my own party and of course will listen to them talk, vent and share their opinion about the situation. So, take care how you listen. What does that mean precisely?

I went on a search in finding some studies about these verses in Luke chapter 8 and found a blog called Quiet Time asking the same questions I had and also answering them. So I read and studied. (You can read the whole piece by clicking on the link.)

“So what should the disciples be careful about? About how they hear. The greek for how you hear is ‘pos akouo’, which means indeed by what means or in what manner you hear. Then Jesus gives them the reason why they should be careful about how they hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.

Wow. I guess Jesus is right, we should be very careful about how we hear because this seems utterly unfair. People who already have will receive more, and those who do not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them? Does this mean that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer? Where is the justice and fairness in that?“

Then the writer explains Who it is we need to listen to and why this is so important.

“This is why it is so crucial to be very careful how you listen to God. If you do not accurately hear Him, you will lose what you think you have! But if you do hear God accurately, He will give you more truth and light and insights, and in the future, more eternal rewards.

For the disciples, there was only one way in which they could accurately hear God. It was by staying close to Jesus and ask Him about the things they did not understand. It cost them everything they had; they left their homes and jobs, and followed Jesus. They had to be faithful stewards with what God had given them. As a result, they had truth and they will be rewarded richly.

Likewise for us Christians today, there is only one way to accurately hear God. We have to read His Word, study it, and pray humbly to God, asking Him to open our eyes to His truth. We likewise have to leave our former lives behind and follow Jesus, listening daily to our Lord and be faithful stewards of what He has given us. We will then also receive more truth and we will also be richly rewarded when our Lord comes back.”

Once again, God answers my prayer. Once again a quick response too. Once again I am learning to ask, have faith, wait and listen. And I’m enjoying it. I’m learning that while I wait I stay close to God. I read the Word, read devotionals, spend time with Him by listening to music that honors His name, meditating on the Word, praying and talking to Him. I’m gaining while I wait. Gaining His presence, His understanding, His peace, His love, His way of reacting, speaking, His words He would use. I’m gaining Jesus, gaining God while I wait. More of Him and less of me.

John 3:30 [HCSB] – “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

May you enjoy to listen to God too.