hear

Opening Prayer: Lord, teach me to listen.  The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them.  Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, “Speak, for thy servant heareth.”  Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart.  Let me get used to the sound of Thy voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking voice.  Amen.  (The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer)

Scripture: Mark 4:9

Journal: How do you practice listening to God?  How often do you feel like you really hear him?  How do you feel about that?

Reflection:

have we become so deaf

to the voice that whispered us into being

that we can no longer hear anything

but the incessant noise of our own inner dialogue

is our hearing like any other bodily function

that must be regularly exercised over time

lest the muscles atrophy and decay to the point

where they no longer function properly

is the reason that we do not hear you o god

simply because we do not try

because we fail to make time and space to listen

is hearing you a lost art that must be rediscovered

how then shall we hear you o god when you say to us

he who has ears to hear let him hear

how can we stimulate that auditory nerve in a way

that the ear of our soul comes to life once again

and makes hearing you a possibility

for we do long to hear your still small voice o god

that voice that softly resonates deep within us

that voice that subtly reveals your great affection

that voice that touches our inmost being

and brings us to life inside

we do have ears o god

so please help us to hear

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Speak, O Lord, for your servant is listening. (1 Samuel 3:9)