Promise for Today - They All Heard Something

[Jesus speaking] Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father, bring glory to your name.' Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him. Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine."
John 12:27-30 NLT

Jesus knew He was going to be crucified. He had time to think about it. He knew what was coming. How? Because He knew the voice of God. He was "deeply troubled" and yet He prayed for God to be glorified by His willing obedience. Why? Again, because He knew the voice of God! He wasn't wondering IF it was God or if it was God's will, He KNEW.

Do we spend enough time with God to know His voice? The thing about this particular passage is that they ALL heard the voice of God, but how many recognized it? Some thought it was thunder...

What if - during whatever our trial - our path crosses with someone who never met Christ? Someone we would never have met otherwise. Would they want to hear about our Lord and Savior because of how we respond to Him in the middle of our affliction, or would they give us a 'No, thanks' because all they're hearing from us is thunder and grumbling?

The question on my mind is 'How often do we pray to be delivered from the very thing that serves God's purpose?' It's human nature to want to avoid pain and suffering. Jesus prayed for it in Matthew 26:30, "He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, 'My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want Your will to be done, not mine.' ”   Your will, Father, not mine.  Be glorified...

The writer of Proverbs tells us, "Ears to hear and eyes to see— both are gifts from the Lord" (Proverbs 20:12 NLT). 

Prayer:

Father,
          Of all Your many blessings that You bestow on us, please, God, give us ears to hear and eyes to see. And a mouth to speak only Your praise and what You would have us to say. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder to Make Sure You Hear

 The Lord said to Moses, “Write this reminder on a scroll, and make sure that Joshua hears it, too: I will completely erase any memory of the Amalekites from the earth.”

Exodus 17:14 God's Word Translation

This particular battle (where Joshua defeated the Amalekites while Moses was on the mountain with Aaron and Hur holding up his hands) took place about 1446 BC; 40 years before the death of Moses and the subsequent transition to Joshua's leadership. There was no mention of Joshua being the next in line to inherit Moses' position with the Israelites; there was no defined rite of passage.

One particular phrase of this verse leapt out at me this morning. I remembered the part about writing it down and erasing any memory of the Amalekites, but I didn't remember the part about making sure that Joshua would hear it, too. I researched in several translations and it was in all of them - to be certain, to tell it in the ear, to rehearse it, to make sure Joshua heard it, too.

Moses may not have known, Joshua may not have had any inkling, but God's plan was already set in motion. He knew the faithfulness of Joshua. His level of obedience to the letter. Joshua's passion to believe and act on whatever He said without question. Forty years beforehand - 40 years being the symbolism of a time of trial and testing, a type of probationary period. However, Joshua did not know it was a probationary period. It was Joshua's daily choices that allowed him to fulfill God's purpose in and for his life. Joshua CHOSE a lifestyle of faithfulness, obedience and faith.

What is God saying to us in our seemingly insignificant (to us) times that have great bearing on our eternal purpose? Know this - God does not waste words. There is absolutely NOTHING insignificant when it comes to God's plan. Are we listening? We better make sure we hear - and obey!

Prayer:

Father,
            We love Your Word. Remove from our lives the people, places and things that distract us and detract from Your plan and purpose for us. We want to be faithful and obedient like Joshua. We want to fulfill our purpose for You. Help us, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Are You Listening?

Doing something for you, bringing something to you— that’s not what you’re after. Being religious, acting pious— that’s not what you’re asking for. You’ve opened my ears so I can listen.
Psalm 40:6 The Message

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone when all of a sudden, you realize you have no idea what they're saying? Their voice didn't change. They're speaking the same language. They're following the line of their story, but somewhere along the line, you stopped listening. It's all in how you hear. Yes, there IS a difference. Jesus said so. Look...

Turn to Luke 8, starting in verse 11. 
    The seed is God’s word. 
12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 

13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 

14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 

15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.

How you hear is SO important. Jesus went on to say in verse 18, So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.

Can you hear Him now? Are you listening?

Prayer:

Father,
           I tremble at the thought of the consequences of a hardened heart that refuses to hear You. Forgive us for those times we have ignored Your voice and gone our own way. Father, by Your mercy and Your unfailing Grace, please give us a listening ear and a servant's heart to hear and obey Your voice. Teach us, Father, we pray. In Jesus' Name. Amen

Can You Hear Me Now?

Doing something for you, bringing something to you— that’s not what you’re after. Being religious, acting pious— that’s not what you’re asking for. You’ve opened my ears  so I can listen.
Psalm 40:6 The Message

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone when all of a sudden, you realize you have no idea what they're saying? Their voice didn't change. They're speaking the same language. They're following the line of their story, but somewhere along the line, you stopped listening. It's all in how you hear. Yes, there IS a difference. Jesus said so. Look...

Turn to Luke 8, starting in verse 11. 
    The seed is God’s word. 
12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. 

13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. 

14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. 

15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.

How you hear is SO important. Jesus went on to say in verse 18, So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.

Can you hear Him now? Are you listening?

Prayer:

Father,
           I tremble at the thought of the consequences of a hardened heart that refuses to hear You. Forgive us for those times we have ignored Your voice and gone our own way. Father, by Your mercy and Your unfailing Grace, please give us a listening ear and a servant's heart to hear and obey Your voice. Teach us, Father, we pray. In Jesus' Name. Amen
           

Want to Hear?

To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.
Matthew 13:12 NLT

I want to hear the Lord. I want to know what He is saying, and more specifically, what He is saying to me. I think every Christian who is trying to do the will of God also wants to hear what God has to say. Amen?

Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone, but you're in a busy place, there are people milling around having conversations or laughing, the TV or radio might be on, even your own thoughts may distract you to the point of having to ask the person to repeat what they just said. How much of that conversation do you actually hear - or do you just nod and smile, pretending you heard? We've all experienced that, at one point or another.

Aren't conversations much better when you are able to look the person in the eye and your surroundings are quiet and prepared? How much more so when the King of all kings would like your attention? Have we prepared our hearts and minds? In Hosea 10:12 NKJV, the Lord tells us to, Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
Hosea 10:12 NKJV

The dictionary defines 'fallow' as:
           1. (of land) plowed and left unseeded for a season or more
           2. not in use, inactive

Does fallow describe your heart? It has described mine in the past. Let us break up our fallow ground so that we can get the seed sown and it will produce the harvest needed to feed the lost. It is very important and NEEDFUL to listen intentionally, with purpose. Why? Oh, you may remember - faith comes by hearing...

Prayer:

Father,
           Help us to prepare our hearts to receive Your Word. Give us ears to hear, eyes to see , and faith that truly hears and obeys Your voice. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Full of It

And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold. As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Luke 8:7-8 NIV

If this were a red-letter edition, our Promise for Today would be written in red because these are the reported words of Jesus. Many will recognize this from the Parable of the Sower where Christ talks about the seeds sown, and then He explains that the seed is the word of God (vs 11). 

We have the awesome privilege of caring for my youngest granddaughter this week. (Hence the change in schedule for posting.)  Her parents' focus for her right now is listening - the first time. "Are you listening?"  So, it is verse 8 that lights up for me today. As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

However, with ears to hear the whole story, think about what we hear in a day. I think about the old Sunday School song we used to sing, "Be careful, little ears, what you hear. There's a Savior up above watching over you with love. Be careful, little ears, what you hear."  (Do they still teach that song?) The point I'm trying to make is that we are pounded and pummeled all day long from outside sources, and not all of them are good. 

Just like we endeavor to guard our children's ears (and hearts), we should also guard ours! If faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, then what are we building with everything else that we hear? Doubt? Fear? Confusion? 

Luke 6:45 NIV tells us, A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.  Let's check ourselves. What are we speaking?

What are we full of - the Word or the world?

Prayer:

Father,
           Free us from the unholy that we hear every day through no choice of our own, and please forgive us for the unholy choices we have made of our own volition. Give us ears to hear only You so that what we speak will edify those who hear. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Shhhhhhhh, Hear Him?

But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.

Proverbs 1:33 NLT

Some people call it their conscience; some that little voice. But those who are following after Christ know His voice. John 10:27 reads, My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. How many times have we heard it? I should call so-and-so and see what's going on in her life... And we call and she answers with a tear-filled voice, a voice that had just asked God to send someone who cares...

Isn't it inexplicably wonderful when that happens and you get to see the hand of God touch someone's life? I know the joy of that. However, I also know the pain of missing it. I'm too busy with stuff, or worse, I'm not listening...

The thought comes unbidden, I should send a note to encourage him and tell him how cool it is to see his growth.  Or we get the idea to hand somebody a little money and the whole time we're thinking,  I really can't afford this or I might run short this week or They don't look like they need it. What if they think I'm crazy or think I'm being prideful? God, they drive a better car than I do!...And yet, you really feel like you're supposed to do it. So, you go and stammer a little, hem and haw and finally say, I think the Lord told me to give this to you... And their eyes fill with tears as they clutch your hand and say, I had no lunch money for my child this week. I didn't know what I was going to do...

So what will you do?   “Today when you hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts..." Hebrews 3:7b-8a

Prayer:

Father,

          In this lost and dying world, help us to listen with our hearts to hear Your voice and hasten to do Your will. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Hey, It's Me

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.

John 10:3-5 NLT

How many times do you listen to voicemail that starts out with, "Hey, it's me..." and you know immediately who "me" is. Some voices we know so well that they don't even have to say, "Hey, it's me;" we know who it is the minute they open their mouth. Some are the voices of loved ones, cherished friends... A favorite DJ or speaker/preacher, favorite actor, favorite singer(s) - all voices that are easily recognizable. 

The latest ploy of telemarketers is to start the conversation with "Hey, it's me. I just wanted to call and tell you about..." like they know me... And based on, Hey, it's me,  you think you should know the voice and your brain starts searching for some familiar tone or voice inflection to figure out who this is and then you realize it's not your friend after all. It's someone impersonating a friend. Deceptive.

So, whose voice are you listening to? The one pretending to be your friend, but really trying to deceive you - or the One whose voice is very distinctive - a still, small voice so familiar to our hearts that He should just be able to open His mouth to breathe and we'd know Him. He'd never have to say, Hey, it's Me.

Prayer:

Father,

         We want to know You more, to know You better, to be so intimate with the sound of Your voice that we shush any voice that tries to talk over You. Speak to us, Father - give us ears to hear You and only You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen