Are You Hearing or Just Listening?

"Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand." Then he added, "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. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them." - Mark 4:23-25 NLT

Faith comes by hearing the word, not by just listening to it. And there is a difference between listening and hearing.

By just listening to the word of God you are giving it "ear service" (akin to "lip service"). And by hearing the word of God you are giving it primetime attention and focus. It is going through your ear gate and taking root in your heart.

I liken half-hearted listening to the way that Charlie Brown's mother sounds. When she talked it was "Wah-wah, wah-wah-wah, Wah-wah...". It was totally indecipherable and could not be understood. You hear a voice but it was indistinguishable. It was just noise.

I know that there have been times that I have attempted to hear the word of God but haven't tuned in all the way. I was listening but not hearing. I was trying to multi-task and wasn't making the connection. It was hitting my head and not my heart.

In those times of listening my intention was right but my attention was off. And faith from the word really wasn't coming to my heart. I have had to repent and refocus.

We really have to tune out the world in order to tune into God so that we can hear His voice from His word and so faith can come.

We need to pay close attention to His word. His word brings life, healing and strengthens our faith to trust Him and believe what He says.

Setting aside time each day to hear the voice of God by meditating on His word causes faith to come and helps us grow spiritually.

What are you hearing the Lord say to you today?

Say this:
I hear the word of God with my heart. My heart is tuned to the voice of God and my spiritual ears are open and ready to receive from Him. Faith always comes when I hear God's word. I am being filled daily with faith.

Pray this:
Lord, Your word is seed that is sown in my heart. It brings faith every time that I hear it. I desire Your word more than I desire my natural food and value it more than anything on this earth. Thank you for stirring up my desire for Your word by Your Spirit. I am forever grateful for the changes that I am experiencing because my faith is growing. In Jesus Name!