Ears to Hear?

Oswald Chambers wrote:

Jesus said: "The words that I speak unto you," not the words I have spoken, "they are spirit, and they are life." The Bible has been so many words to us - clouds and darkness - then all of a sudden the words become spirit and life because Jesus re-speaks them to us in a particular condition. That is the way God speaks to us, not by visions and dreams, but by words. When a man gets to God it is by the most simple way of words."

One of the hardest exercises we used in marriage enrichment classes was teaching listening skills. One person (the speaker) held an object (potholder or wooden spoon) while the other person was allowed to speak uninterrupted. The person listening was not to be formulating their response or reaction, but rather listening so that they could say back something like "I think I heard you say you are lonely and scared. Is that right?" when it was their turn to speak. It was difficult and awkward because we are so unaccustomed to truly listening to others, especially the person we live closest to. The responses were stilted because they had nothing of the defensive in them.

But then I have to wonder how am I doing listening to God, truly hearing what He is saying to me? Oswald Chambers stressed "the word Jesus speaks to me." Not the words Jesus spoke in the past, but present day, present moment. How can you hone your listening skills with our Savior and maybe even your spouse?

Lord, whoever have ears, let them hear. Mt 11:15, 13:9, 43; MK 4:9, 23; 7:16; LK 8:8; 14:35