Listen

       Much dreaming and many words are meaningless.
     Therefore stand in awe of God.
       ~ Ecclesiastes 5:7


Do you talk too much? Not just to other people. Do you talk at God too much? Something that could indicate that you’re talking too much is that you never hear God speak. When you pray, do you say your piece and not wait for a response? What person would go to his good friend, talk for five minutes – share feelings, ask some questions, make some requests – then walk away?
Don’t do that with God.
When Elijah met with the prophets of Baal on top of Mount Carmel, the prophets of Baal thought more words and more volume would get their god’s attention (1 Kings 18:26-29). But God answered Elijah’s prayer, and Elijah humbly knelt in the presence of God (1 Kings 18:42). God doesn’t want many words; He wants a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17). That’s the kind of heart Elijah had, and God listened to him.
In Matthew 6:5-7, Jesus described two kinds of talking a lot. Hypocrites do it loudly to earn the praise of men. Pagans do it because they think that’s how they will be heard by their god. Jesus said to instead go privately, humbly before God. You don’t need pomp and frills to talk to God, nor do you need to read Him a novel. Have an honest heart and pure intentions.
In this verse, Solomon was talking about more than just praying. Paul expanded on this when he told Timothy to “turn away from godless chatter” (1 Tim 6:20, 2 Tim 2:1). Paul says this ‘godless chatter’ separates you from God. He mentioned this in both letters to Timothy, so it’s probably pretty common and probably very important. Instead of always talking, God wants you to listen – stand in awe of God. He does amazing things with time spent in quiet with Him.
If you’re just going to babble or daydream, you’re doing nothing of value. You would do much better to simply stand in awe of God. Sometimes we need to just… stop. and listen to God (Ecc 5:2-3). Go humbly before Him with honest prayers and listen to what He has to say. The point of prayer is not to change God; it’s to change you.
When you pray, are you talking with God or at God?
Are you willing to spend time before God simply to hear Him speak?

God's Voice

     "The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd
     of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him,
     and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his
     own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has
     brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them,
     and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.
     But they will never follow a stranger; in fact,
     they will run away from him because they do not
     recognize a stranger’s voice."
      ~ John 10:2-5

God calls you and knows you by name. Do you know His voice? When He speaks to you, do you listen and follow Him? Sometimes it seems really easy to ignore God’s voice and say you didn’t know it was Him. But you know and God knows that that’s not true. Obeying God is not always easy, but the Good Shepherd will never lead you astray.
The enemy will lead you astray, though. Don’t listen to a voice that isn’t God’s. Don’t listen to advice that is contradictory to God’s teaching. Be active in not listening; run away from the enemy and his lies.



+Read John 10

God and you

     Know that the Lord has set apart the godly for himself;
     the Lord will hear when I call to him.
      ~ Psalm 4:3

You’re not just another tool in God’s workshop or another crate in His warehouse. Everyone of you is special to God. He loves you and hears you. He won’t just ignore you or leave you. He knows and wants what’s best for you, and He’s in a position to do something about it! Talk to God, knowing He will hear you, then listen and apply what He says in response.



Read Psalm 4