“And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall listen” (Isaiah 32:3).

There is a discipline to listening to which few take time to attend. We practice our speeches, our orations, our prayers. We flood heaven with our petitions, praise, supplications and intercessions; but we spend precious little time listening for the voice of the Lord.

The Lord does speak in multiple ways to the discerning soul. He speaks in visions, dreams, parables and riddles and dark sayings, those mysteries that are waiting to be revealed. He speaks through the Scriptures. He speaks by prophetic utterance, by tongues and interpretation, through signs and wonders, by angelic visitations and sundry other ways. Are we listening? Are we discerning? Are we dialed in to the right frequency? Or are we preoccupied with other things?

Listening to the Divine takes time. Can we give time? Can we devote time to the discipline of listening, or are we full of excuses? Are we giving time to watching and praying, or are we just watching other things? Are we just too busy, with our routines, our schedules, our daily tasks and obligations?

Sometimes things are clear and easily understood; at other times we will need to diligently search out a matter to find the answer. The Prophet speaks thusly, “You shall seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). That is the diligence required in listening to the Divine.

Listen (Heb. Shama): To hear intelligently with careful attention, obedience. Hear, discern, perceive

Listening to the Divine requires intelligent, careful attention. The hearing thereof requires disciplined discernment and perception by the spirit. The intuitive spirit knows the voice of the Divine and conveys the message to the understanding mind. Why build the body and neglect the spirit? (cf. I Timothy 4:8). Listening to the Divine is a spiritual exercise.

Are you ready to start hearing from God? Are you open to the Divine visitation? Are you willing to begin the process of giving more time to listening? Are you willing to sacrifice a few things to clear time for the devotion and discipline required for listening to the Divine? The Lord is patiently waiting. He hears your prayers. He receives your praise. Now give Him time to answer you in ways that will astound you. “The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty” (Psalms 29:4ff). Open your heart to Him and let Him speak. Experience the joy of listening to the Divine.

The Prophet, Isaiah, was witness to the Majesty of the Most High with the Seraphim around His Throne. “I heard the voice of the Lord, saying ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then said I, ‘Here am I, send me.'” (Isaiah 6:8).

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