Ears to Hear

Posted by Yakuti in Archives, Devotional | | 0 comments

The Word: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear (Mark 4:9).

Prayerful Contemplation: In this noisy age, it is almost impossible to find a moment just to be quiet in the Presence of the Lord. I am constantly surrounded by sounds that aggresively fill my ears even when I do not want them to. Many times, the noise that I hear is heard involuntarily – I am unable to keep myself from it – to do so, I must needs go out of the world (1 Cor 5:10).

(See 1 Sam chapter 3:) The night on which God called Samuel was a quiet one, but that example remains useful even today. Samuel had laid down to sleep when he heard Someone call him. Assuming it was his guardian, priest Eli, he obediently got up and ran to Eli’s room to find out what he had to say. But Eli had not called the boy, and off to bed Samuel went. But there it was again – “Samuel.” He got up, ran to Eli’s room. “Here I am – you called me,” he said, and again, it was not Eli who had called him. A third time this happened, and then Eli perceived that it was God Who had called the boy, and said, “When He calls again, say ‘Speak; Thy servant heareth.’ ” Just as before, but more persistently, God called again – “Samuel, Samuel.” Samuel did what Eli told him to do. And so it was  that a deep and intimate relationship began between the Lord and a young boy, and Samuel was so faithful that Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground (1 Samuel 3:19).

In one of his psalms, King David said, I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches (Psalm 63:6). If we meditate on the Lord in the night watches, we are likely to hear Him if He calls on us to reveal something to us. Samuel was surrounded by the Presence of God even at a tender age. God was constantly on his mind – he was in training for the priesthood, after all. He was an answer to prayer and was dedicated to the Lord. Just like you and me, Samuel was chosen by God for a great work.

Despite the noise around me, can I hear God? If He called my name while I was asleep, would I hear Him? Or would I be too preoccupied by the things of this world, meditating on them instead of on Him?

Practical Application: How important it is for me to learn to still my soul! How very powerful silence is – in the night watches, God might reveal my assignment to me. All I require to hear Him, is “ears.” And not just any ears, but “ears to hear.” My ears are not just decorative fixtures on my head. Likewise, my spirit is not a part of me that should be taken for granted. My spirit is my antenna, that picks up the voice of God and projects it to my soul and commands it to do what it should. Because the flesh and the spirit rage against each other, then if I allow noise to dominate my life, I will not hear what God says.

Memory Verse: And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth (1 Sam 3:10).

Prayer: Heavenly Father, my request is that You teach me to listen. Forgive me for being a stubborn and hard-hearted soldier. Make me like Samuel, Lord. Train my heart to hear Your voice. I am Your sheep, and therefore I will know it when I hear it – all I need is ears to hear. Please give me ears to hear – instead of earthly noise drowning You out, I ask You today to drown out the earthly noises around me. I humbly say this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

.