Listen to God

Sometimes when I sing a familiar church song, the words just roll from my lips, never touching my heart or passing through my mind.   I recently had that experience with the song “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.”   I was singing the words, but the content and message of the words were not reasonating with me.   The phrase “Tune my heart to sing Thy grace” caught my attention.   Am I in tune with God?

I have been involved with music much of my life.   I am very aware of the importance of tuning.   However, I have not fully applied this concept to my spiritual journey and discipleship.   What an interesting question:   Am in tune with God?   How can I tune my heart to God?    

While tuning an instrument, it is important to carefully listen in order to match the tone.   John 10:27 describes this experience:  “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (NIV).   How do we listen to the shepherd's voice and tune our hearts to His?   All Christians are looking for ways to develop their listening and tuning skills in order to be better followers of Christ.  I believe the more often I listen for God, the more often I hear from God.   I believe the listening and tuning skills are interwoven into my life as I submit to the word of God, live an obedient life, and seek to glorify Christ in word or deed.  For me, it is a challenge to hear God’s voice.  For me, it is a challenge to discern and tune my heart and life to Him.   However, I continue listening and tuning. 

Now let’s get practical.   How do we tune our hearts to God?   There is no easy method.   It takes practice removing the clutter of noise in order to focus on the Shepherd’s voice.   Submitting oneself to God and being available like Samuel in the Old Testament,  [“Speak, for your servant is listening ” I Samuel 3:10 (NIV)] is a very important priority.

Samuel was ready to listen.   Are you and I ready to listen?   I believe these are some of the ways we can improve our listening and tuning skills:

• Allow God to speak to me through His Word—the Bible.
• Allow God to speak to me through His presence and fellowship.
• Allow God to speak to me through Godly people.
• Allow God to speak to me through His creation
• Allow God to speak to me through the events of my day.
• Allow God to speak to me through the pain and difficulty of life.

What are some ways God speaks to you?  How have you tuned your heart to hear God?

 

posted by  Dr. R. W. Bobby Martin

 

 

Dallas Baptist Association exists to assist our churches individually and cooperatively in fulfilling the Great Commission of making disciples of all nations.