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Monday, October 15, 2018

listen to him

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, shut our mouths and open our ears, that we might hear your voice and order our lives accordingly.  Amen.

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-5

Journal: In what ways (or areas of life) do you need to listen to him these days?  How can you encourage others to listen to him?

Reflection: While he was speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.  Listen to him!" (Matthew 17:5)
     Listen to him!  What great words.  What a great answer to anyone who might come our direction for wisdom or advice: Listen to him!  Don't listen to me.
     But all too often, my pride—or my insecurity, it's hard to tell which—enters in and I feel like I actually have got something of value to say.  The only problem is that whoever is sitting, or standing, before me at the moment doesn't need what I've got to say.  What they really need is what He has to say.  So the best answer I could possibly give is: Listen to him!
     Several years ago I was at a major decision point in my life.  And as I sought God for clarity, I was really torn as to what I should do.  The stakes felt really high.  Saying yes to the opportunity in front of me would mean a major disruption for my family--moving, changing schools, etc.  I went back and forth; one day I would feel one way and the next day, the other.  I was in agony.  Luckily a dear friend and wise mentor was coming to town for a visit, and I thought surely he could help me figure it all out.  Yet when I asked him what I should do, he very wisely said, "I have the utmost confidence in your ability to hear God in the matter."  Or, in other words, "Listen to him!"  The exact words I needed to hear.
     Henri Nouwen once said: "The loud, boisterous noises of the world make us deaf to the soft, gentle, and loving voice of God.  A Christian leader is called to help people to hear that voice and to be comforted and consoled."
     As leaders we are NOT called to tell people what to do.  Rather, we are called to tell people to get away from the noise and chaos, to retreat into silence and solitude, and then to simply Listen to him!

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Forgive us, Lord Jesus, when we try to do a million-and-one things to figure out what we should do with our lives, instead of just stopping to listen to you.  Help that to be the first thing we do, rather than the last.  In your name we pray.  Amen.

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