Listen

Birds singing, rain pouring, a fire crackling, children laughing, and other sounds are a delight to the ears. A rushing river sounds different than ocean waves crashing on the sandy shore. Wind rustling through dry autumn leaves is different than wind howling through winter trees with no leaves. Sounds are so vital to our lives. How well are we listening to the sounds God has around us. How well are we listening God?

Listening is such an awesome responsibility and great sense that God has given to each person. Unless someone is hearing-impaired, then every person has the wonderful sense and responsibility of hearing. Sometimes, I wear ear plugs to get a good night’s sleep. I want to block out sounds and sleep more peaceably. A problem I see though, is many people seem to have invisible ear plugs in all the time or at the wrong times. They stand in front of someone speaking, nod their head, maybe even respond with a word or two; but they are not really listening. I must admit, I have been guilty of the above scenario myself. The problem continues further when we sit in church or read our Bibles with those invisible ear plugs. So what can we do about it? Here is some encouragement to be better listeners.

Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet, is an example of a good listener. Let’s see what things she did to help her listen to the Lord.

Luke 10:38-39 “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.”

 Mary put away all physical distractions. She stopped everything she was doing and rested at Jesus’ feet. To be a good listener, we need to put away all physical distractions. The biggest hindrance today is the mobile phone. We need to turn off the phone and put it away. It has become difficult to have a conversation with someone without them looking down and typing on their phone. If their phone is not in their hand, it is within grabbing distance. Mary did not have a phone. Sometimes I wish I did not have a phone. I encourage one to leave the phone home, or turn it off, and do not turn it back on until one’s Bible study is done for the morning.

Mary also thought spending time with the Lord was so important, she put away all insignificant and meaningless things when the Lord walked in. We need to do this when we read our Bibles, pray, and walk into church. Make everything else in our lives insignificant at the time. Leave the mobile phone at home, put the children in their Sunday School classes, get a cup of tea, and fellowship with other believers. Block out the world and focus on the Lord during one’s daily Bible reading, prayer time, and church time.

Mary also put away mental distractions. She got as close to the Lord as she could so nothing could distract her from the precious time she had with Jesus. She paid no attention to Martha cumbering about the house. Martha obviously could not even get her attention, because she went to Jesus to complain about Mary not working. We need to put away mental distractions when we are reading our Bibles, praying, and in church.

For example, if one has gone to church and left dirty dishes in the sink-great-one left a physical distraction and went to church. Now, once in church do not keep thinking about the dirty dishes in the sink. Push the thought out of one’s mind.

Do not think about household chores, the children’s school work, the husband’s work, the broken down car, or other things that bog the mind down. Clear the mind. Ask the Lord to help clear the mind. Have special, undistracted times with the Lord when reading the Bible, praying and going to church.

Surprises abound, with God, even during a brief Bible study if the physical and mental distractions can be put away. Many of us are extremely busy and even ten minutes is difficult to get for our daily Bible study. So a challenge goes out to put away the physical and mental distractions and see what God can do with even ten minutes a day.