Monday, February 17, 2014

Listen Up

"...because he did not know what he should say, since they were terrified. A cloud appeared, overshadowing them, and a voice came from the cloud: This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!" Mark 9:5 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)


The disciples have witnessed something totally new and unexpected.

Peter feels the need to respond. Everyone is terrified. Peter has the courage to be the spokesman.

His response? He wants to DO something. He realizes this is big. He doesn't want to forget. He wants to memorialize this moment. He wants to get busy and DO  - and I believe his heart was right. His response was not.

 God speaks, "I love this boy. He's my son. LISTEN to him!"

Listen in its simplest form is to hear. The word and tense, however, implies much more. Listen with attention, learn by being informed, obey.  (Strongs 190).

I am much like Peter. God moves in my life, begins to do a new thing, and I want to DO something. God wants me to LISTEN....not speak, not do....just listen.

Are you aware of the joy of simply sitting quietly in the presence of Jesus and listening?  Listening not to other teachers, sermons, Christian radio...but to HIM? Quieting the noise of the Internet,  your own words and simply listening? Sitting still. Being. Some call this "silent prayer" or "conversational prayer" or "listening prayer"....

I'm a busy, active person. Nearly two years ago I was asked to lead four sessions on spiritual disciplines at a retreat. Others spoke on other disciplines. I led sessions on submission, surrender, solitude and silence.  In many ways, it was a turning point in my life. God has done a work in my life and I "get" submission. That was, personally,  the "easy" one - though the word has lots of baggage and we dealt with the baggage.  Surrender, SOLITUDE and SILENCE were new works God was doing in me.....Michael sent me away for a weekend of solitude in preparation for the weekend and it terrified me. It WAS just what I needed both to prepare words to speak and to experience solitude and silence. ::grin::

 Jesus led deeper and deeper into both solitude and silence...and it's been good.  Major works of restoration have taken place in my life, new vision has been received,  as I  listened and followed Him. It all  began by listening for His word to prepare to teach....it has continued for the past two years. I have sat and  LISTENED and learned to discern His voice and act on it.....

I know the tendency to act, to be busy, to serve, to do....but God always calls us to listen and there are seasons when He calls us to stop what we are doing and simply be. To sit with Him and listen.

"Be still and know that I am God...." Psalm 46:10. CEASE and desist....stop....be still and you will know me intimately....we must find ways for quality time with Jesus. This is pleasing to God. This is our response to His work in our lives.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...