Psalms 81:13 Oh, that my people would listen to me
What makes you stop and listen?
Is it the thunder of a coming storm? Is it the giggle of a baby? Or the laughter of a popular TV show? Is it political news or news of violence? Is it the call of Social Media with something new to hear? What is your ear tuned to? The Bible says in Psalms 115:6: “They have ears but do not hear.” Mark 8:18: “Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear?”
We all have two sets of ears.
Our physical ears and spiritual ears. Our spiritual ears hear from our hearts. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice” John 10:27
How do you hear with your spiritual ears? Take the time to sit still and listen with your heart. I love the morning or evening when the sun rises or goes down. If I take the time to push away all the distractions and just be quiet, I listen to God’s creation. It has beautiful sounds. The animals, the wind, the movement of tree branches. The sounds of nature. They all share the sound of a mighty creator. In this process, as I listen to nature, I hear God speak to me. Not with my physical ears but with my spiritual ears. With my heart. I need to do this more!
Fight Distraction
There is a world trying to get your attention all the time. I encourage you to be still, push away the noises, and hear God. Hear nature. Wonder at God’s creation. See its beauty. As you are still, your spiritual ears will begin to hear God. You will start to listen to Him whisper to you.
God also whispers to you through His word. Take the time daily to read it, then sit still and meditate on the living words. The most remarkable chapter on this process and its effect is Psalms 1. “…blessed is the man who meditates on God’s word… whatever they do will prosper…”
I encourage you to take time daily to hear God in a noisy and demanding world. Listen to the rest of Psalms 81 and what God says to you in these verses.
Psalms 81:13-16
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes. 15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him, and their fate would last forever. 16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock, I would satisfy you.”
Light-N-side 