Lord, Give Us Ears to Hear

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17 (ESV)

As I was preparing this, I remembered when I was little in Sunday School singing, “Jesus Loves Me” …this I know, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO. But little did I understand how true this is.

My first experience in this reality was about six years ago. God had stirred me, but I was confused and felt alone and somewhat afraid of what or where I should go or who I should talk to about this newfound faith. I was listening to various sermons and messages but had no direction. It was before God led me to the LifeCentre and into the LifeStart program.

Then one night, I was randomly reading different Scriptures and happened to turn to Isaiah 41:10. As I began reading, it was like I heard God gently telling me not to be afraid or dismayed as He revealed who He was deep in my heart. And I knew instantly; He would be with me, giving me the strength I needed. That was my first deep impact with hearing God, and it was through His Word.  But I wanted to know more about Him and His Word. Within a couple of days, I found Psalm 25:4–5. As I began to read, I found myself praying over this Psalm and asking God to show me His ways, to teach and guide me. I wanted to know the truth of who my God was. Then with a flip of a few pages that same night, was Psalm 32:8…” I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” I was brought to tears. I KNEW IMMEDIATELY GOD SPEAKS. It wasn’t through my natural ears; it was deep inside. It was a moment that I really didn’t understand, but I believed every word He was speaking as I read His Word.

I also know that God will reveal and stir within us things that will bring us to His Word. At Heart Conference, March 2019, under my seat was a post-it note that read “God Sees You.” I remember smiling, taking it home and taping into my Bible, writing down the occasion and the date. Two months later, in my final year and days in Bible School, Pastor Joyce spoke those exact words over me. As she spoke, I sensed God was telling me you didn’t listen the first time. When I stared at my little note in my Bible, a rush of who called God, El Roi, The God Who Sees, stirred inside. It was Hagar when she was in the desert. I thought about how God met me in the desert of my life. And He is still seeing me now.

More recently, Holy Spirit spoke to me of how part of my life could be found in Daniel 3 and 6. As I read those chapters, I felt so stirred remembering how God was in my jail cell in 2005. I didn’t know Him then, that would take another ten years, but He was already working in me. He was purifying me, taking away any signs of my addiction. He was already cleansing me. Just as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had no sign of being in that furnace, the day I walked out of that jail cell in 2005, I had no sign that I ever had a drink, nor did I desire to have a drink since that day. And as God was with Daniel in the den closing the mouths of the lions, He was with me in that jail cell closing the mouth of the enemy’s lies being spoken into my heart and mind.

God will drop His Word into my heart at just the right time. On one occasion, I cried out to God when I was overwhelmed with loneliness. Holy Spirit reminded me of Jesus’ words in John 16:32…” Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.” Within a couple of minutes, my family Facetimed me. What a treat, thank You, God. And on another occasion, I felt a rage against someone who did nothing to me. I stayed quiet in my anger, but I could feel hate building up. I knew it was wrong, so I called out to God. And He spoke the words of Jesus in John 21:22…”…what is that to you? You follow me!” I felt He was reminding me to focus on Him and not the other person.  I know the stories behind these brief phrases, but they are not Scriptures that I think about. But God, at the very moment I called to Him, dropped them into my heart, and both times, instantly, the feelings I had were lifted.

I am convinced God speaks, and His Word reminds me again of that song of how Jesus loves me…His Bible tells me so. I believe that whatever way our Abba chooses to speak to us always leads back to His Word. And if we hear Him as we read His Word, He can reveal something in and about our lives.  I know His Word is alive and active, as He is alive and active. Even in the correcting, His Word is sweeter than honey.

Since I can find all God’s promises in His Word to be YES and true, I can always say AMEN knowing that NOTHING CAN SEPARATE ME FROM HIS LOVE; that I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST; that I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH; and GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN ME, THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD. And I can hear Him say, I HAVE LOVED YOU WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE.

Lord, give us eyes to see as we read Your Word, ears to hear Your voice and a heart to receive Your every Word…In Jesus name…Amen.