Day 2

Throughout my born-again life, others have told me that to hear God’s voice, I just need to “incline” my ear to Him. And I always wondered what that meant. I’d also get suggestions like, “Just press into God!” In an attempt to respond to that one, I once pressed my fingers into the wall to try and envision this “pressing” business.

All I got were sore fingers.

Over time, I just wearied myself in trying to understand what it took to hear Him, and not just haphazardly, in those seemingly randomized “special moments,” where I suddenly became more perceptive for no apparent reason. No, I desired to sense God’s voice whenever I needed to (not that I’d “arrived” there--still haven’t). But I at least wanted the gist on how to tune my hearing to His frequency, you know?

Then, one day, I stumbled across this verse in Proverbs and saw it! “…receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear…”

Oh! I thought. So that’s why staying in the Word a lot is so important!

…Ah yes, keep reading, listening, meditating…How often have we heard that from mentors, pastors, and so on? They already knew if we kept pouring it into our brains, this would automatically open our ears (and hearts) so that we’d hear God more often!

Also, notice that from roughly verse 2b to 20, the Lord goes on to explain why daily, sometimes hourly, “planting” of God’s Word in our hearts and even crying out for His wisdom while we read or listen (verse 3, etc.), is so vital.

That’s something else that took me years to understand. I can’t just take in God’s Word. I’ve also got to speak with God about what He’s saying in it. For instance, if I don’t get it, I’m supposed to ask questions!

It’s really that simple. We take in and pray over that Word, and then out comes discernment! Remember that truly getting what He’s saying can take time to “pop,” depending on how often and deep we explore His thoughts (see Hebrews 5:14 for more on that).

Lastly, I will say that failing to guard our hearts from other thoughts and “voices” of this world can do just the opposite to our ability to hear God—as in hinder it. But that’s another topic for another day…

Two important truths from Proverbs 2:

1. When we keep digging into God’s Word, we will hear from Him sooner or later!

2. When we cry out for wisdom while seeking the answer we need, it will come!

What is something that’s kept you from seeking God’s answers through His Word…Perhaps it’s worry? A bad habit? Calling someone? Once you know, then persist in spending time with God instead. Or if the other action is still useful or even vital to your life, try to find consistent ways and times to engage with God’s Word anyway. As you and God develop a system, you will find you’re becoming more perceptive to His voice.

Reflection:

We should spend time in prayer and personal Bible study in any way we can, even on busier days. Then, we’ll be wise because we will have heard from God more often.