Listening and hearing might sound similar, but in actual sense, there is a lot of difference between them. Several individuals receive the Word of God but they do not listen to it and put it into practice in their lives. Hearing is simply the act of getting sound but listening is more of understanding, accepting and doing what one is told. I have noted that a lot of Christians visit the church, take part in Bible lessons, or listen to preaching services but fail to have the Word of God enter their heart. My people are destroyed due to lack of knowledge as stated in the bible (Hosea 4:6). This demonstrates that listening to the Word of God and knowing it without acting will not make any difference in the lives of people.
This is something I tend to think about and remember the ease with which distractions or worldly desires or personal opinions may stand in the way of listening to God. When we hear God and do not obey his commands, we become like the parable of the sower in Matthew 13: 19-22. The seed that falls into the thorns symbolizes that Word of God that is read but strangled by concerns, riches, and the joys of life. Personally, I have known that listening to God carefully when it comes to making decisions results in regrets. However, I feel guided, sanctified, and blessed when I do indeed listen.
God has to be listened to humbly and patiently. It requires us to shut our mind and to take away the din of our daily lives. According to James 1: 22, do not simply listen to the word, and thus deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” There is no use listening without taking any action. I have discovered that the more deliberate I become in regards to obeying the Word of God, the more I develop as a spiritual person. Smaller things such as praying through the Bible or meditating on the teachings presented in it allow me to interpret the instructions of God in a clear manner.
Another thing it is important to do is to check our hearts. There are occasions that we believe that we are listening and then that pride or stubbornness prevents us to accept the Word of God. When I genuinely submit my heart, I am aware of the way that the direction of God becomes more evident and my existence is more oriented to his purpose. Proverbs 3:5-6 does not forget to remind us, that we must place our trust in the Lord with all our heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Conclusively, hearing the word of God is not the only step to go but listening and obeying the word is where change occurs. I have come to understand that listening is not an easy task and one needs to be very humble and practice. As we listen to God, he speaks, guides and blesses us in a way that we would never think. We should not just listen to the Word of God but live it in everyday life.
Listening to the word of God should be intentio
The Word of God is only profitable to those who hear and observe all that is commanded of us to observe