Hard To Hear With A Bad Connection
James 1:21-22
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
One of the greatest evils that we struggle with is pride. The other day I was talking to a friend and all the sudden, I started struggling to hear what they were saying because of a bad connection. I found myself ready to hang up sooner because it was hard to hear. The same can be true with the Lord. If there is something that’s causing us to struggle, hearing clearly from God and his word, it gets easier to stop listening. So, what can cause these bad connections? When I am full of myself and what I want to focus on, I tend to speak at God, rather than with Him. I also spend most of the conversation speaking instead of listening, because I want Him to bless what I am doing instead of hearing what He is already doing and adjusting my life to His leading.
Luke 9:23-24
Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
If we refuse to adjust our lives to God’s leading, we could miss what He has in store for our lives. When God reveals what He is doing, we need to adjust what we do and that means no more business as usual. Are we willing to leave what we know, let go of long held beliefs and prejudices, and readjust our thinking? As soon as we adjust to God, He will work through us and accomplish His will.
Another sin that can cause a bad connection is fear. As our country and world grows in anger, bitterness, and disunity, it’s easy for many to start living defensively and in fear. When we are responding in fear, it’s almost impossible to hear God’s voice above our cultural shouts of morality apart from God’s truth. If we are willing to adjust our lives to the truth of His word, we will be able to silence the noise of a culture that is yelling lies to silence us and keep us in line with cultural norms. God’s word is truth.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through these scriptures?
