There is noise all around us in this world.
People talking
Doors opening and closing
Babies Crying and Children Lauging
Zippers on jackets and purses
Radio
Typing
Water running
There is noise all around us in this world.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone but were only half listening?
As a child, my mom would always correct me with my "selective listening" like when she told me Mindy could come spend the night IF I cleaned my room.... I would hear Mindy can spend the night and ignore the clean your room part. I only picked up the part that I wanted to hear and ignored the rest!
Even now as an adult, I still have selective listening. My friend may call me to tell me about a prayer need or something special that has happened in their day, and while carrying a conversation with them, I'm checking e-mails and filing papers. I hang up the phone missing out on an opportunity to really connect with them and listen.....
Or how about a mom trying to juggle the responsibilities of her family. She runs around grocery shopping, school shopping, volunteering at the kids' schools, taking kids to soccer practice and dance lessons. There is ALOT of noise in a mom's day...... I have seen and talked with plenty who have trouble giving their full undivided attention to their child when their child asks a question while they check their e-mails or prepare to go into a meeting.
Good Listening takes time and practice.
It's not a natural thing for most people.
What about listening to God? How do we do with taking time to listen to Him and his guidance and direction for our life?
Our time with God is often squeezed in between checking e-mails and our drive into work. Its something that we do while we do other things....
How effective is our time with God when we can't really focus on what He is saying to us?
How many times does God give us direction/answer we have asked for and we are too busy or too preoccupied with other things that we miss what He is saying?
Or how many times do we only hear what we want to hear -- that selective listening as mom says.
Good listening takes time. Good listening takes practice and discipline.
He is talking to us.
He has not left us.
He is there.
Are we willing to do what it takes to listen?
Father God, I admit that sometimes I allow the business of my day and the noise that surrounds me to get in the way of listening to You. Help me to create an environment where I take time and truly listen to what you would have to say to me today. I love you and thank you for loving me. - Amen
