The More We Listen, the Better We Hear

(Guest posting today is my dear friend Carmen Horne. I love when she shares her heart, what the Lord has been speaking to her! I hope you enjoy it, too!)

Can we talk about dressing room mirrors? I can be feeling all cute and slim. Maybe I’ve been cutting back all week and just know those smaller jeans are going to fit. I step into the room, shut the door, turn around, and my eyes pop out like Bugs Bunny’s when he sees Honey Bunny. I think, is that what I really look like?

The thing is, I have been known to leave a traumatic dressing room experience and forget how I felt. Like, forget as quickly as the next time I am asked if I want fries with my order. We seem to have a propensity to dismiss what we do not like to see or hear.   

The desire to hear God has been highlighted within my soul lately. I really do want to hear what God has to say. I think I do anyway.

[tweetthis]Could I be struggling with the hearing because I’m afraid I won’t like what God is saying?[/tweetthis]

As I write that sentence I am thinking, could that really be the reason?

Jesus said, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given…” Mark 4:24-25a NLT

Jesus calls us His sheep. He guides us, feeds us, protects us, speaks to us, tends our wounds, and fights for us. When we are His, we hear His voice. We not only hear, we know His voice. (John 10:27)

It must be kinda like my Momma clearing her throat during church. She might have been sitting six rows behind me, but when I heard her throaty “ahem”, I knew it was her. I didn’t need to turn around.

I want to know and recognize Jesus like that. Don’t you? When He says, “Stop, go, be still, speak, be quiet” or a favorite, “I love you. You are my daughter and I am pleased with you.” we want to hear Him. We need to hear Him. 

To be honest, it scares me to death to think my spiritual ears may grow tone deaf to Holy Spirit leading. Does it scare you too? Every time I feel conviction, love, or direction I am so thankful that I can still hear God! He is the originator of every good thing within us. 

I love this promise from Psalms 32:8. Let’s make it personal to us:

When You speak, I listen, Lord. Thank You for Your promise to guide me along the best pathway for my life. You are my Advisor. You are my Watchman. My ears are open!

Once a promise resonates with our spirit, it’s ours. Within the Bible, we find so many verses about God speaking to us. So, if He’s speaking, that means we can hear. 

Quoting Jesus in Matthew 15:23 ESV, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Amen, Jesus, Amen.

 

 

Carmen Horne

Wife, mom and Jesus girl best describes Carmen. She has been married to her fella, Lary, for 41 years and they have one beautiful daughter.

She walks out her calling to women’s ministry as a writer, speaker, and Christian Women’s Hope Coach. Carmen often lends her ear and heart to those looking to find hope in the craziness of life.

Carmen is convinced her home in heaven will be beachside with a chocolate filled closet, but until that glorious day, her family makes the Bayou State their home.

You can find Carmen online at:

Website: www.carmenhorne.com

FB – www.facebook.com/carmenhornecoach

Twitter – www.twitter.com/carmenhornenow

IG – www.instagram.com/carmenhornecoach

Pinterest – www.pinterest.com/carmenhornecoach