Do You Want to Hear Jesus?

We probably all have met someone in our lifetime that talks nonstop.

As a mom, I am a part of the ranks of moms throughout the centuries who have had at least one child who loved to chatter nonstop.

Recently, one of my children was having one of those very talkative days, and I was trying to listen and to be ready to respond.

In the course of her monologue, she asked me a question.

Silly me, I thought she actually wanted an answer! 🙂  So, I tried to respond, but she just kept on talking!

I got to thinking afterwards,

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I DONE THAT WITH GOD?

How many times have I asked Him a question, or asked Him for wisdom, or asked Him for ANYTHING, and then just kept talking to Him, instead of being quiet, searching His Word, and LISTENING for an answer?

I am a child of God.

He knows more than me.

He wants me to talk with Him.

But He also wants me to listen.

Chances are good that I won’t hear him if I don’t listen, just like my child was not able to hear me even though I was trying to answer her.

The boy Samuel heard God’s voice in the still of the night when all was quiet.

Elijah had an experience with God where he needed to hear God.  You can read the story in 1 Kings 19.

In verse 12 we read:

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“And after the earthquake a fire;
but the LORD was not in the fire:
and after the fire a still small voice.”
KJV

The NIV version says,
“after the fire came a gentle whisper.“

When Elijah heard the gentle whisper, he knew that it was God.

I believe that there is a huge reason why God tells us to

“Be still and know that I am God.”  Psalm 46:10

It is in the stillness, the calm, the quiet, that we will best be able to hear His voice.

Taking the time to read His Word and asking Him to reveal to us what it means, then continuing to read the passage in context and/or looking up words in the dictionary to be sure we really understand them are NOT just religious exercises or scholarly pursuits.  They are an exponentially gigantic way that we can still our souls and listen for God to speak.

Do you want to hear Jesus?

He is the Living Word of God.

He agrees with the written Word of God.

He will not tell you to do anything that the written Word of God forbids.

And many times He will gently whisper in your spirit the very words that are written on the page of Scripture, words of wisdom, enlightenment, encouragement, comfort, or whatever else you need to hear from Him.

I know that sometimes it is hard in this busy world, with families to take care of and all the demands that are put on us as women, but if we want to hear Jesus, we need to carve out a little bit of time to quiet our souls before Him.  It has been my experience over and over again that I got more done, and more efficiently, after having spent time with Him than I would have had I not first quieted my soul before Him.

It is so worth it to spend that time with Him!

HE IS SO WORTH IT!

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Linking up with:

Thought Provoking Thursday,  Grace Moments

Chasing Community,  Heart Encouragement Thursday

Sitting Among Friends

Coffee for your Heart

Unite,  Ra Ra Linkup,  Testimony Tuesday

Glimpses,  Soul Survival

Monday’s Musings,  Moments of Hope

Dance with Jesus,  Faith ‘n Friends

Fresh Market Friday

21 thoughts on “Do You Want to Hear Jesus?”

  1. Reading in the OT always makes me so conscious of the way I treat God. I get huffy and horrified at the way the Israelites ignored God’s blessings and focused on their fears — but then I catch myself doing the very same thing. Very convicting!

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    1. My dear sister, Andrea, thank you so much for this encouraging word. It gives me great joy to hear it.
      I pray the Lord will give you success in the putting into practice what He spoke to you here.
      Can’t you just see Elijah in a cave like one of those in the photo above and see him come to the mouth of the cave, squinting and covering his unshaven face with his mantle while straining to hear that still, quiet voice of his beloved Lord? 🙂 I love the stories of the Bible and the beautiful things that we can learn from them about God and His love for us!

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  3. Yes, he is a still small voice. Sometimes a knowing. These are spiritual gifts but, he does give them out and he does talk to us and guide us. Be still and know that I am God is one of my favorite verses. I do it every night with my prayers. It is very important to do that! Wonderful post.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You’re right, Sherry; sometimes it is “a knowing”. It has been my experience that as a younger Christian, I did not know how to recognize His voice, even when I was reading Scripture, especially if what God was trying to tell me was not in line with my will. Part of that was because I just didn’t have as great of a base in my knowledge of Scripture, and part of it was because I didn’t expect Him to talk to me, and part of it was because I just wanted my will instead of His. Learning to recognize His voice tends to be a journey, I think, something we get better at the more we get to know Him through His Word.
      Thanks for reading and for your encouraging comment! 🙂

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  5. Hi, Kelly!
    Thank you for your encouraging and perceptive comment!
    I’m so glad that He wants to meet with me daily, even on the days when I don’t listen as well as I should. I lose out when I don’t listen, and I suppose those around me do, as well, who could have benefited from what I learned had I listened. But once again, praise God for His mercy and for His second chances! He still loves me, just like I still love my daughter.

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  9. Oops. I know I do this myself: “How many times have I asked Him a question, or asked Him for wisdom, or asked Him for ANYTHING, and then just kept talking to Him, instead of being quiet, searching His Word, and LISTENING for an answer?” May I pause to listen more than just talk to him today!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. God seems to multiply our time when we give its first fruits to Him, doesn’t He? Sweet thoughts on listening for the whisper. Oh this God of ours, who doesn’t prefer to shout over our daily chaos, but invites us into the quiet of His presence, instead. And, even when I’m a chatterbox in that time, His warmth covers me, and I always feel safe and loved having spent time with Him. — Sweet post, Ruth. Thank you for sharing with #ChasingCommunity today. Your words bless.

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  11. Ruth,

    I had to laugh when I read the beginning of your post because I knew EXACTLY what you were going to say after you said she asked a question. And then I could see clearly how you were going to show us how we do that with the Lord. I have experienced that lesson so many times, ( enough you’d think I should have learned it by now). This morning as my daughter spilled out her thoughts, I smiled at the way she just needed me to listen. I was glad that I did earlier, because it was in the afternoon I forgot that lesson and your words are reminding me. 🙂

    Thanks for sharing this at the #GraceMoments Link Up!
    Blessings,
    Dawn

    Liked by 1 person

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