Morning by morning the Lord wakens,
wakens my ear
to listen as those who are taught.

Isaiah 50:4b

Next Level Listening

What does listening as those who are taught look like in our time? We know it when we don’t see it. When we are trying to say something important to us, and the other person is uh-huhing while looking at their phone. Or when the person we’ve shared something with immediately starts into a story of when the same thing happened to them – except it isn’t the same thing at all.

What this verse reminds us about is next level listening. Listening to what God is saying here and now asks us to be open, to be present, to show up as fully as we can, as undividedly as we can, and just listen. We might hear the birds that we had been ignoring up until now, or the child that needs something we have to give. If we are paying attention, we might hear the vulnerability in someone’s voice as they try to share their story with us.

If we listen – truly listen – we might just hear something that will lead us toward the world God intends us to be part of creating

Prayer: O Lord, Please help me today to remember to listen and be present. Waken my ear to your voice coming through. In Jesus Name, Amen

Reflection Questions:

1. What gets in the way when you try to listen to people?
2. What gets in the way when you try to pay attention to what God might be saying/doing in our world?
3. Is there one habit you could embrace that might help you listen well?