Listening

Are we listening for the Holy Spirit to speak to us when we read God's word? Are we listening for Him to speak to us throughout each day?

Listening

This week's devotions are written by my son, Bryant Forshee, Lead Student Pastor for Cross Church, Springdale, AR campus, and former Junior High Pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, TX.

- Pastor Danny

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work."

(2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT)

One of the lessons I am continually learning in marriage is listening better. Kyndall and I have a routine for the workday. I get up and go to work. We go to the gym on most days that we can. We come home and eat dinner together. We clean up dinner and go to sleep. Now, where I sometimes get in trouble is the "eat dinner together" part. The part that might get me into trouble is listening. I can get preoccupied with different things: the food, my phone, the dog, random noises I hear, etc., and these things take my mind off listening to Kyndall. Unfortunately for me, Kyndall has picked up on my struggle to listen and will ask me, "Are you listening?" I will then have to evaluate if I was listening and tell her the truth about if I was or wasn't listening and engaging in conversation.

I think my poor listening habits at the dinner table can sometimes be like our listening to God. We have our routines throughout the day, and when we are supposed to be listening, we get distracted and do not listen for content. I am specifically talking about listening during your time with the Lord. Whatever you call it, your "quiet time" or your "devotional time" or whatever other term you call it, do you listen in that time? You may never miss your time with the Lord because it is part of your everyday routine, but do you listen? Even more specifically, do you listen when you read the Word of God? God's word is "useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right." If this is all what God's word does in our lives, are we listening?

Are we listening for the Holy Spirit to speak to us when we read God's word? Are we listening for God to correct us, teach us, train us, encourage us, or convict us? When we come to the scriptures in our personal time with the Lord, are we listening, or are we checking a box because we know we are supposed to be doing a "quiet time" or a "devotional time" or our "time with the Lord"?

As the theme of reflection has permeated throughout this week of devotions, reflect on this question: are you listening to God and His word?