The following is an excerpt from my book Say Yes to the Prompting of the Holy Spirit.
We normally think that we listen with just our ears. This is true in part. But it is much better to be a proactive listener. A proactive listener just doesn’t listen with his ears. He sometimes nods to show that he is following the speaker and he is really listening with his heart. We must listen to God as He prompts us by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes He speaks to us through a still small voice. Remember “Whoever is of God listen to God (John 8:47).”
The Bible gives us some examples:
First Kings 19:9, “There he came to a cave and lodged in it, and behold, the Word of the Lord came to Him, and He said to him, “What are you doing, Elijah?”
He replied, “I have been very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, have thrown down your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I, only I, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” (v.10)
And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind and the earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake” (v.11). “And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire, and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still small voice.” (v.12)
In verse 13 this still small voice spoke to Elijah.
Be careful what you listen to. If the people or voices you hear are not speaking out in faith, they are not of God. Consider this. On one side of the spectrum, you have speaking out and acting in faith, positivity, and possibility thinking. Hebrews 6 speaks of the great saints that acted in faith. Whereas in James 1:6-8 it speaks of how God looks upon someone who doubts as being like a wave tossed to and fro by the wind and being double-minded. And no such person should ever expect anything from God.
CONCLUSION
Although we have two ears and one mouth, it is not entirely true that we should listen with just our ears. It is true that God wants us to listen more and speak less, but listening is more effective when you engage your heart in the conversation. We also should listen to the still small voice within us which is the Holy Spirit who God put in us to be our counselor and the one who will guide us to the truth.
SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
How do you listen? What voices are you responding to? Are you listening with your heart? If you are led, feel free to comment below.