What do You Hear?

Reading: Mark 4:24, Luke 8:18

"Consider carefully what you hear".
Mark 4:24

What are we listening to? We live in an information age, a media age, with voices coming from our radio's, TV's, computers, email, Facebook, Twitter, and now even our phones. News, commentary, how to eat, exercise, how to live, how to do anything you can imagine, so many voices! Our schedules are fast paced and we scarcely have time to connect with our families, let alone our friends and neighbors. So coming aside to spend time with Jesus, to listen to Him speak to our hearts can be challenging.

What are we hearing? Imagine all those signals mentioned above, as radio waves we can tune into. There are rock and roll stations, jazz, classical and talk. Some of them have strong signals that are loud and easy to find and others you have to search for. Now, imagine the voice of God as a frequency we can tune into. It is not going to be loud, flashy or competing for attention, but quiet and you need to be in a quiet place, usually with your Bible open to hear it. Then, hopefully those words will abide in our heart, find expression in our life as we love those around us.

"With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and even more."
Mark 4:24

Basically, the more we drink from the well of living water, the more we will be refreshed by the water of life. If we use what God is stirring in us; He will give more of His word for us to hear. Jesus speaks of hearing His word and putting it into practice.

"Therefore, consider carefully how you listen".
Luke 8:18

How do we hear? Here are some sweet, simple suggestions from Madame Guyon who lived in France in the mid 1600's to the early 1700's... Come to the Lord quietly and humbly. Take in a small portion of scripture. Take it in fully, gently and carefully. Taste it and digest it, until you have sensed the very heart what

of you have read. Take the portion that has really touch ed you and turn it into a prayer. Praying the scripture is not judged by how much you read but by the way in which you read. If you read quickly, it will benefit you little. You will be like the bee that merely skims the surface of a flower. In this new way of reading with prayer, you will be like the bee that penetrates into the depths of the flower. You will plunge deeply within to remove its deepest nectar.

"Who ever has will be given more; and whoever does not have, 

even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."
Luke 8:18

When we seek God how do we hear?
Our faith comes from hearing the message of salvation through the words of Jesus, and our faith in hearing Him grows in hearing His words. It is in reading His words that we learn to recognize His voice. Believe God will speak to you through His word. You will grow more and more in hearing His voice.

"... faith comes from hearing the message,
and the message is heard through the word of Christ..."
Romans 10:17