Just Listen!

Why is it so hard?  I mean, really.  Is it truly all that difficult for children to listen to their mother?

I ask myself that question almost every day.  I can't tell you how many times I say to Brody or Aubrey, "Listen to me!"  The worst is when they are asked to or not to do something and they do the exact opposite of what I asked!  Some days it upsets me to no end.  Other times I have a little more patience and use what has happened as a teachable moment.  But no matter how I feel in the moment of their failure to listen, when I think about it later I am disappointed and saddened by how easy it is for them to ignore what I say.

All they have to do is just listen and we enjoy each other so much more!

Last Friday, however, proved to be a lesson-filled day about listening...for me, not my kids.

As we were preparing for our last day of Vacation Bible School, God spoke to my heart and told me to do something ... told me to take something with me to church.  I pondered.  I thought.  I rationalized.  I came up with an excuse.

Then He spoke again, saying the same thing.  I considered listening a little more this time.  But I still did not do what He told me to do.

I walked out the door, intending to go on with my day and not obey.  I knew what God had said.  I had no trouble recognizing His voice.  But I thought my ideas and ways were better, and I made the choice to not listen to Him.

As I got in the car I realized I had forgotten something, so I walked back inside for that item.  The thing God wanted me to take to VBS was still sitting there on the counter as I stepped into the kitchen.  I looked at it, heard God's nudging again, this time a little more insistent.

Can you believe I started to exit once again without taking with me what God wanted me to???  But then, God spoke to my heart again, forcefully, and I said out loud the words I heard, "JUST LISTEN!"  I grabbed the item from the bar, closed the door behind me and got in the car.

Why won't my children just listen to me?

Does God ask Himself that question?  Maybe so.  As the omniscient God of all creation I have a pretty strong feeling He already knows the answer.

You see, when someone speaks,"listening" usually involves more than just hearing and recognizing the source of the sound.  The one who is to listen typically has a response to make.  Perhaps they need to do something, or not do something.  Maybe they are to say something in response, a "yes ma'am/yes sir" type answer.  I believe the same principle is at work when God speaks - He wants us to listen and respond to what He has said.

He wants us to obey.

The Bible is full of God telling His beloved ones to listen.  Jesus often began His teachings with the word "Listen!"  Why is that?  God knows that even while we have His spirit dwelling inside, we still have a sinful nature that wars with our hearts and minds on a daily basis.  We must submit every minute to Him.  I believe that is why Paul tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind (see Romans 12). It does not come natural for us to listen and obey.  What is natural is disobedience.  Not listening.  Doing our own thing.  Thinking we know better.  Ignoring God.

But oh the joy, the peace, the comfort, the blessings we find when we just listen ... when we choose to submit to our Lord in the little things, the big things, and everything in between!  "Now therefore, listen to me, my children. For blessed are those who keep my ways."  (Proverbs 8:32)

I am glad I listened.  I am sorry it took God speaking to me several times before I listened. I was already bothered by my intent to disobey, yet had God not given me that last "just listen" command I may have continued in my own way.  I would have saddened and disappointed Him.  Thankfully, my heavenly Father is patient with me.

The rest of that day proved to be a day of listening.  God spoke to me twice more that same day and asked me to do some things I had never done before that made me a little nervous.  But I am happy to say it was easier to listen and joyfully obey each time He spoke.

I know He was teaching this mother, who just wants her children to listen, a lesson of her own in obedience.  Just as it seems easy for the kids to not listen to me, I saw how simple it is for me, an adult, to ignore my heavenly Father.

Has God spoken to you lately?  Asked you to do something for Him?  Asked you to refrain from something for the sake of holiness?  And how well do you listen when you hear and recognize His voice?  Remember ... He wants us to "just listen" to Him.