3:71 – I’m Not Going To Listen To You

#faithbites #faithjourney #listen #800

Before we get started, welcome to #faithbites #800. Yup, every day, minus one, sine January 1, 2018. Thanks for reading, listening, and stick with me.

Speaking of listening, one of my children had a major breakdown tonight. Yelling, screaming, hitting, tearing things up, and saying I’m not going to listen to you. It was if the devil possessed her for a minute. I kept my cool, told her I loved her, but her behavior was not appropriate. She then tried to apologize like everything was ok. More screaming and no a time out.

Here’s the thing, this plays out everyday in our faith. We want something, we don’t get it, we yell at God and his rules, we have consequences, we yell some more. Throughout all of this, Jesus is there to forgive us and reconcile us. Our Father doesn’t get mad at us but he doesn’t like the behavior. But we can be forgiven and be clean as snow.

So, why not short circuit this relating situation and just listen?

Scripture

• But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. – James 1:22
• Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:2
• “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.  – Deuteronomy 28:1

Reflection

We can’t be doers of the word if we aren’t listening to the word. We can’t faithfully obey the voice of God if we don’t listen to his voice. If we are only hearing and not doing, then we are deceiving ourselves.

We make choices all the time to not listen to God. We follow our own instincts and succumb to temptation. When we do that, we have consequences. Some are minor, some are severe. My little one will have a time out and lose her tablet for the night. It’s hard for her but she will learn. Do we learn?

Let’s try to spend more time listening and doing than shutting out God’s voice.

Challenge

What can you do to listen to God more? How can you quiet your self interests to be a doer of the word. It’s not easy but baby steps will help us listen more.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for your love. Thank you for Jesus forgiving our sins when we don’t listen. Help us to listen to your voice and never turn away from you. When we do, help us always ask forgiveness and come back. Your voice is loving, powerful, and righteous. You only want us to do good things. Help us always. In your name, Amen.