Have You Listened Lately?
“The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever” (Psalm 145:17-21).
Do you believe it?
Do you believe that there is a God who loves you, who is CALLING you?
A few days ago, I was praying to God and petitioning Him for an open door. I was eager to make a decision, and I wanted a clear sign from God in my next step. Day after day I sought the Lord and begged Him to tell me what to do in this decision.
Soon, I realized that God was not answering my prayers the way I expected Him to. I became frustrated and bitter and angry with God as I believed that He would answer my prayers and provide for me. Something had to be missing.
And there was.
The Lord calls us to listen to Him. In fact, the word “listen” itself is in the Bible 266 times.
After days of talking to God, reading His Word, and what I thought to be seeking Him, a friend told me to take 30 minutes and be completely still and silent before the Lord. The Lord will speak and guide me.
So often we try to seek God’s voice on our own, put our own words or agenda into what we believe to be God’s voice. But there is immaculate power in seeking the Lord and listening to Him.
Seek the Lord and you will find Him.
If you are waiting on an answer from the Lord, seek Him.
If you think He has forgotten you, seek Him. continue to seek Him.
Even David cried out in desperation and pleaded for the Lord to answer him. David cried out, “Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!”
David petitioned God. He was desperate for answers. I imagine David felt the Lord was not listening. I can imagine David felt the Lord was far from Him. But indeed, the Lord answered David, in His sovereign and perfect timing. In his moments of despair, of looking for answers and lacking an ability to listen, David found the Lord. He found our Savior’s voice.
He wrote, praising God, “I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” (Psalm 145:1-3).
Friends, when we talk to God, we must also listen to Him. He will always be faithful to us.
When I finally took my friend’s advice after weeks of praying and asking God for the things I thought He wanted for me. I listened for His provision and guidance. After 10 simple minutes of no noise, no texts, no talking, just my eyes closed, my hands around my knees, and my mind completely open, I heard God’s voice. He said to me “just live where you are called. Just say yes, and trust me.”
He answered me. You see, the Lord promises us that He is always listening, too. He PROMISES us.
In Psalm 138:3, David wrote, “On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.” David reminds us that the Lord is faithful, for He hears our cries, our desperate pleas, our rejoicing, our heartache and our laughter. The Lord is with us in every moment of every day.
The Lord is here, with us now. The Lord is with us at all times. He sees you in your darkest moments and He knows the deepest cries of your heart. So why are you despairing?
David goes on to write in the next two verses of the psalm, “All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord”
When the kings of the earth saw and experienced the Lord’s faithfulness, they did not sit still. No, the kings rejoiced and worshiped the Lord, as He listened and answered their cries. When we experience the Lord’s faithfulness, we too can rejoice and exclaim, “Great is the glory of the Lord.”
In this season of uncertainty and isolation, we can cling to the reassurance that the Lord is here. Paul wrote, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39). The Lord seeks us and desires a relationship with us. The Lord is calling us out, eager for us to listen to Him and receive His gift of grace.
His grace is free. His grace is eternal.
His love is steadfast. His love endures forever.
Let His promises comfort your wandering heart. Listen to the Lord’s still, faithful voice.
He is present. He is with you.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me,” wrote David (Psalm 23:4).
The Lord is a loving father, waiting for you to join Him in Heaven with open arms. His arms are strong and safe. His arms long to comfort you. Are you listening to Him? Are you letting Him speak to you and guide you throughout this season?
No matter what you are going through, listen to the Lord. Seek His voice, and He will always be faithful to you. Trust the Lord, and know that His ways are sovereign (Isaiah 55:8-9). Breathe deep, and know that “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).
“So do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emma Lown is a freelance content writer and social media coordinator for nonprofit organizations. She is passionate about shining through hope in Jesus, sharing His love, and giving a voice to the voiceless. She has traveled globally to capture stories through photography and writing with Unto, Jesus Film Mission Trips, and The Tide ministry. She has been published in Conscious Magazine, Tirzah Magazine, and the Focus. Read Emma’s blog here: And Emma