Listening: by Joey

 

In my journey in the last several weeks, I have been reflecting on the word 'listen', which in my opinion, has become a lost art. As I waited in the quiet to unwrap what I would discover, these verses came to me: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. James 1:19 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. Proverbs 16:20 Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matt.7:24 Looking further, I found this online: Listening to God is a Spiritual Discipline: The Bible encourages a posture of stillness and quiet. When reading the word of God, true listening requires engaging with the Bible and obeying the instructions within. And it requires obedience: The word "obedience" comes from the Latin for "to listen," highlighting that proper listening leads to action. 

 

This stirred a search for a scripture that I was inspired by years ago and still resonates deeply. 1Sam.3:1-11 Now the boy Samuel ministered to the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation. 2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, 3 and before the lamp of God went out in the [a]tabernacle of the Lord where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that the Lord called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!” 5 So he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” And he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” And he went and lay down. 6 Then the Lord called yet again, “Samuel!” So Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” He answered, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 (Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.) 8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. So he arose and went to Eli, and said, “Here I am, for you did call me.”Then Eli perceived that the Lord had called the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”11 Then the Lord said to Samuel: “Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

 

Recently, I was told I am a deep well, and if that is true, it is by his mercy and grace that he has caused me by the spirit to cry out and say Here I am, speak your servant hears. In meditating on these words, I am aware there are times I have only now begun to use that allow me to enter true rest in the midst. One of them is that while the kids I care for sleep, I take out a pen and paper and listen. The following poem came from one of those times:

 

Secret Pathways: The reflection I see is often dim, and yet in the quiet, the image is made clear within. Misty as a spring rain,  light as a feather, this reflection gives substance to an unseen expression. The reflection I see is no longer unsure, though at times it may be a bit blurred. Wild as a windstorm, calm as a lake, it clears the path to a place of quiet that no one can forsake. It is a wonder to me that one can hear anything when everywhere we go, there is constant noise. So that even when I am alone, it takes concerted effort to shut down my thoughts, submit to his way, and listen. The word listening numerically leads to the number 7, which is associated with wisdom, spirituality, seeking truth, reflection, and rest.

 

Psalm 37:7: "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their evil schemes".Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint". In a culture where nothing encourages on to slow down, live within their means, be still, listen, and see that rest is the key, this can be a challenge.