Thoughts for Life: Learning to Listen

Max Lucado- Equipped with the right tools, we can learn to listen to God. What are those tools? Here are the ones I have found helpful.

A regular time and place. Select a slot on your schedule and a corner of your world, and claim it for God. For some it may be best to do this in the morning. Others prefer the evening Others prefer many encounters during the day. (Google image, Learning to Listen)

Some sit under a tree, others in the kitchen. Maybe your commute to work or your lunch break would be appropriate. Find a time and place that seems right for you.

How much time should you take? As much as you need. Value quality over length. Your time with God should last long enough for you to say what you want and for God to say what he wants. Which leads us to a second tool you need—an open Bible.

God speaks to us through his Word. The first step in reading the Bible is to ask God to help you understand it.

Before reading the Bible, pray. Don’t go to Scripture looking for your own idea; go searching for God’s. Read the Bible prayerfully. Also, read the Bible carefully.

Here is a practical point. Study the Bible a little at a time. God seems to send messages as he did his manna: one day’s portion at a time. Choose depth over quantity. Read until a verse “hits” you, then stop and meditate on it. Copy the verse onto a sheet of paper, or write it in your journal, and reflect on it several times.

Will I learn what God intends? If I listen, I will.

Understanding comes a little at a time over a lifetime.

There is a third tool for having a productive time with God. Not only do we need a regular time and an open Bible, we also need a listening heart. Don’t forget the admonition from James: “The man who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and makes a habit of so doing, is not the man who hears and forgets. He puts that law into practice and he wins true happiness” (James 1:25 Phillips).

We know we are listening to God when what we read in the Bible is what others see in our lives.

Paul urged his readers to put into practice what they had learned from him. “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do” (Philippians 4:9).

If you want to be just like Jesus, let God have you. Spend time listening for him until you receive your lesson for the day—then apply it.

(Bold print added to the 3 tools. Used by permission)

From Just Like Jesus
Copyright (W Publishing Group, 1998, 2001) Max Lucado

Let's pray-

Father, help us to use these tools to learn to hear Your Voice. Help us decide to create a special time and place to meet with You each day.
May our open Bibles show us the verses that will give the inspiration needed for the day, and create in us a listening heart, that we may respond to what You say to us.
We'll know we are listening to You when what we read is what others see happening in our lives. As Paul urged his readers to put into practice what they had learned from him, may we do the same.
We pray this in Christ's name. Amen

Our special link today for Moms:

To the Mom Letting Go This Month
appeared first on Jill Savage.

66-70 of 100 one-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week-

66. Nahum 1:7 "The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."

67.Micah 7:7 "Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me."

68. Eph. 4:32 " And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."

69. Ps. 33:18 "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy."

70. Ps. 106:1 "Praise ye the LORD, O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever."

Today's quote-

Learning To Wait

Lord, I’m learning

That when You don’t answer

My prayers right away,

There’s a good reason.

Perhaps I need to change first,

Perhaps I need to grow more,

Perhaps I can’t handle the outcome.

So I’m learning to rest in You

As I wait for answers.

I know that You only want

What’s best for me.

I’m learning that You are able

To reveal the reason for Your delays,

But You may not always do that.

I’m learning that Your ways

Are always better than mine;

That You are able to bless me

Abundantly more than I ever dreamed.

Lord, I’m learning.

©Frances Gregory Pasch

Words of wisdom-

~ God has a master plan, and He will fulfill it! We haven't a clue what He's planning to happen because of our living, but as His thoughts are higher than ours, we can trust Him to help us make a difference.

~ We have a place in God's plan of things. We go through seasons to prepare for another one, to prepare for what we can do for the Kingdom. Let God use you where you are!

A helpful link:

5 Ways Anyone Can Become a Better Listener

By Dawn Klinge- "We all want to feel like we’re heard and understood."

"We have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak." – Epictetus (Greek philosopher)

Upcoming posts-

Through the Eyes of Love

31st- Saturday's post by Bill Myers

#1 Search for Happiness
9/3- Tuesday's first of 8 posts by Billy Graham

#2 Searching for Happiness in all the Wrong Places
5th- Thursday's post by Billy Graham

Is Pain Punishment?
7th- Saturday's post by Merlin Carothers