“I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for He speaks peace to His faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways.”-Psalm 85:8
Let’s remember this — in God’s great wisdom, He gave us two ears and only one mouth. Hmm. Why did He do that? He alone knows all the reasons, but you can’t help but assume that one reason He did that was to remind us that listening is more important than speaking. Without a doubt this is true in regards to our relationship with God. He alone is God! He knows best and wants us to know what’s best. Are we really listening to Him?
Missionary Frank Laubach wisely said this about listening: “Listening to God is far more important than giving Him your ideas.” This is so true because God is perfectly wise, always good, completely holy, and the Only One who literally knows everything. In Psalm 85:8 the Psalmist proclaimed, “I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for He speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways.” When we listen carefully to God, He speaks His words that lead to peace. We find His peace, even though our circumstances may or may not have changed at all. His truth offers what we truly can’t find anywhere else. As we listen to God, we are also reminded to not go back to our foolish ways. Oh how quickly we get off track and return to our folly. All of us, just like sheep, have strayed from God’s path to follow our own (Isaiah 53:6). Listening attentively to God reminds us again and again of what’s right and what leads to deep, lasting peace.
As we walk into a new year, let’s be encouraged to listen carefully, especially to God. How? We open our Bibles daily. We humbly pray for Him to speak to us through His Word. We talk with God, asking and especially listening. As He speaks, we hear the truth that sets us free.
Godspeed, friends!
-Scott