Listen
A devotional about asking God to listen to us and hear our cries as we struggle with life in a world where everyone wants others to listen to them but don’t want to listen to others.
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SCRIPTURE:
Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. —Psalm 5;1—
THOUGHT:
I am fascinated by language. One of the greatest men in history, Nelson Mandela said:
“Without language, one cannot talk to people and understand them; one cannot share their hopes and aspirations, grasp their history, appreciate their poetry, or savor their songs.”
Language is what makes us different than any other creature that God created. Whether you subscribe to the Theory of Evolution or are a Pure Creationist, language is the one factor that makes us different than any plant or bird or fish or mammal. Language give us the ability to think, plan, create, decipher, imagine, and a million more tasks that scientists and linguists have not even begun to fully comprehend. We appreciate that it does make us different. We treasure our ability to use language. We realize the strength that language gives us. We use our language. And…….we talk and talk and talk.
When we possess language, I believe we attempt to use our ability to lift up and encourage, to learn, to warn, to comfort, and many positive things. So often though, we also abuse the privilege. We use words that are racist or demeaning. We use the volume of our words to make a point. We use fancy words to show off. We always give our opinion, whether it is wanted or needed or not. We search for words to express our opinions and ensure there is an audience, no matter who it is or who it affects.
Most of all, we “forget” that one part of language is to listen. Oops. “I am supposed to listen too?” Let’s be honest. Most of us are not qualified listeners. Usually when we are passively “listening” to someone, we are really just thinking about what WE are going to say next. Listening is just a way to catch our breath and prepare for what WE want to say.
I have found that listening is really an art form. Yes, the passive part, our ears sitting on the side of our head, is easy. Unless we physically put sound-canceling headphones on, our ears do their job without a problem. They receive the sound waves, the brain interprets the message, and we are now “listening”. No big deal.
If we are honest with ourselves though, listening involves so much more. Looking at the person, not multi-tasking. Using facial expressions and head nods to at least pretend you are hearing the specific words. Sometimes a touch for compassion. Yet, I believe the most vital aspect of listening is what it does not involve. It does not involve fixing, straightening, voicing opinions, and/or judgement. Most people only want other people to LISTEN. Only listen. Only.
That’s where I find solace in Gods Word. He listens. He may judge. I am sure He has an opinion. I suspect He does want us to proactively address the situation. In fact, we often go to God to get such answers. Yet, He is the GREAT LISTENER. God knows that sometimes we just need to cry out to Him. Sometimes, even if we are surrounded by persons, we notice a void of listeners.
The scripture above says “cry out” and “lament”. God wants us to go to Him. It doesn’t need it to be a fancy prayer. I have found that just sitting and talking in plain English is sufficient and possibly even favored by God. Stripping away the trivial letters strung together in a Thee and Thou kind of way, lays bare our deepest and most profound thoughts and feelings. We have a God that prefers that we open ourselves, humbles ourselves, and go to Him. I also like to look up instead of down. I always picture myself as a ten year old child looking up to my Father in Heaven. He looks down, nods, touches me, or hugs me, and listens. I often don’t close my eyes either. I want to “see” Him. I want to allow Him to listen to me amidst the full exposure of my soul. Now, I am not one of those persons who God talks to, at least not audibly. Truthfully…sometimes I am envious of someone who possesses that particular gift. Yet, many times, I am grateful that our God is the Best Listener in the world. He sent His One and Only Son to us because He listened to our cries for a Savior. He comforts us when we cry out. He lets us weep in His Arms. He hears the words and does not judge their validity or rank their importance. He holds us and allows the words to pour out, judgement-free. He loves us without spoken words. Please note:
“The word ‘listen’ contains the same
letters as the word ‘silent’.”
PRAYER:
Father God, we come to you asking… begging for comfort. We humbly cry out to you, searching for the solace of Someone Who listens, Someone Who mercifully allows the words to tumble out, Someone Who receive our innermost thoughts, Someone who touches our souls in a way that no person can. Hear us God. Our Creator, the One who knows us because He imagined us, please listen with furtive concentration. Hear us. Most of all Lord, help US to be good listeners. By example, give us the skills we need to freely and fully listen to our family and friends. You are the Judge, we are not. Teach us how to listen. Please Dearest Lord.
AMEN.
Are you listening?
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