Stepping Stones: Are You Listening?

Transformational Thought

You all should know by now I’m big on decision-making. I have 3 great daughters, aged 18, 16, and 10 years old … really great kids. But sometimes I wonder about the decisions they make. In those wrong decision making times, they certainly weren’t listening to the advice I was giving them.

Who were they listening to other than me ... and why were they listening to that advice? That “advisor” doesn’t love them as much as I do … doesn’t know them as well as I do … doesn’t want the best for them as much as I do.

Well, what about you? When you make decisions, whose instructions are you listening to? We make between 5,000 and 10,000 decisions per day … seriously. When you make some of your decisions, which voice do you listen to? The crazy world’s … or Satan’s prodding? Your flesh and it’s ‘MY kingdom come’ agenda? Or the Holy Spirit’s still small voice and God’s instruction manual, the Holy Bible?

In today's passage, God is lamenting the fact that no one is listening. You can feel the sadness in His heart as He speaks these words. He pleads with His people: Please listen to Me!

He is speaking to you! Why? Because He loves you and wants to save you from so much hardship and its consequences ... just as our parents give us instruction and pointers for long term fulfillment and satisfaction. God actually knows more than our parents … He sees and knows the future. He created you, so He knows exactly what you need and the way you need it.

These words were directed toward Israel, but God wants all of His children to listen. Jesus said, "My sheep, listen to My voice."

Today, listen to God during your prayer time ... and throughout the day. The Holy Spirit is constantly teaching, guiding, coaching, and warning us. God wants us to talk to Him, then listen to His response. Practice being still. Clear the clutter Satan throws at you to muffle God’s voice. Open the Holy Bible and “read” His voice. It’s all about choices. Whose voice will you listen to?
Your decsion, one of 10,000 today, so choose well.

Prayer
My Father and my Lord, I am guilty of listening to some other voice and giving it, not You, lordship over my life. Please forgive me. I know You have so much You are telling me through Your Holy Spirit in me … through Your word, the Holy Bible, and through my circumstances. Please help me open the ears of my heart, and tune my mind to Your frequency. I know Your plans for me are way better than he ones I have for myself … so in that moment of temptation, please give me eyes that see and follow You. I pray this in the name of the Your perfect listener, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me! … But no, my people wouldn’t listen … Oh, that my people would listen to me!
Psalm 81:8, 11, 13

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
John 10:27

He has never wandered off to do his own thing; he has been right there, listening.
Psalm 22:24