Daily Truth: “If anyone has an ear, let him hear.”
Revelation 13:9 NKJV
How many times have you lost a connection on your cell phone? It is frustrating to say the least. It is also frustrating when you speak to your children and they do not answer.
Listening is a skill that needs to be taught. In this world of changing technology and fast paced life, to slow down and pay attention to the spoken and written word takes self-discipline and practice.
I wonder how many times God speaks to us through His Word and we do not pay attention? At times we do not make time to pray, read the Bible, or listen intently to God’s Word being taught. We too can be like children and allow inattentiveness to be our norm. Our Heavenly Father is patient and teaches us how to listen if we will take the time to learn. If we become better listeners we are better equipped to teach listening skills to our children.
I admit, when my children were growing up, I should have listened better. To be still and listen instead of allowing my mind to race ahead to answer the child or adult talking to me has taken practice…and yes still practicing. I am so glad God is patient and listens to my cries for help.
God shows us in His Word how to listen so we may hear with intention.
- God is a good listener. “Blessed be the LORD, because He has heard the voice of my supplications!” Psalm 28:6 We need to listen to our children with our eyes, ears, and stop what we are doing so our attention is modeled and we too can hear what our children are saying.
Be intentional about teaching your children about Jesus and pray that God will speak to the heart of your children.
- A Christian can hear God speaking to their heart. John 10:27 ‘My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me.’
- A Christian can hear God’s Word and understand it. Matthew 13:23 ‘But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.’ Pray that the ears of your child will be opened to hear Jesus’ Words.
Object Lesson to Teach Attentive Hearing to Children
Show photos of ears or point to ears of your children. Ears are made for listening.
The Bible talks about different kinds of ears. Ask the child, “Think about what kind of ears you have as the different ears are shared.”
- The first ones are closed ears. One day the Lord Jesus met a man who could not hear. He was deaf; his ears were closed. Jesus said one word to this man which meant “to open” and then the man could hear perfectly. (Mark 7:34)
- Some people have close ears because they have chosen to close their ears. Jesus met some people who could hear people speak, but they could not understand what the Lord Jesus was saying to them. (Matthew 13:15) Pray that your child would have open ears to hear what the Lord Jesus is saying.
- There is a boy in the Bible who had “opened ears” his name is Samuel. He heard God speaking to him and obeyed right away. (1 Samuel 3:10) God today speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. Ask the child if their ears are open to God’s Word.
- Ask children to place their hands over their ears and begin talking. Now have the children uncover their ears and begin talking. Ask which way could they hear better. Also discuss how sitting quietly helps when listening.
Attentive hearing listens with the heart. There are over 500 times in the NKJV where the word “hear” appears. Hearing is important to God.
In the book of Revelation God asks us ten times to hear what He has to say. Wow, we are just like children needing to hear things repeated. With patience, love, prayer, and consistency may we all become better listeners and then teach this to the children God has entrusted to our care.
Can you hear me now? Better yet, Can You Hear God Better Now?
Until the next “Truth” sharing moment,
Cathy Jo Johnson
