The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3
The Lord needs no device to see the hidden intents of our heart. For He is light and “there is no creature hidden from His sight.” (Hebrews 4:13) This truth is of great comfort to those who seek good, and most worrisome for the those who do evil.
I was so grateful to get a last minute doctor appointment yesterday to have a clogged ear opened. Swimming in the pool had done a number on my ability to hear. Interestingly, I noticed how all sound indicating life inside my body was heightened—breathing, chewing, swallowing, the beating of my heart. Yet, all exterior noise was muffled. Unless he yelled, I couldn’t make out anything my husband was saying. And if I’m being honest, there were moments I pretended not to hear him. When I didn’t feel like responding, I made no eye contact. And because my husband tired of raising his voice, he forfeit his request.
We do this with God. There are situations when God prompts us, and it’s usually out of our comfort zone. When we know His commands and resist hearing and responding, God takes note of our actions. And not only does He see—His Spirit is grieved by our inaction. Because I am His daughter, I bring sorrow by pretending not to hear my Father.
Ephesians 4 tells us to “put away lying” “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” We tend to think a lie is something we tell, something untrue spoken out loud. But we lie when we act as though something is true when we know it’s not. Pretending not to hear the Spirit of God is lying by omission. It’s easy to listen when we want something. It’s painfully sanctifying when we obey under great conflict.
When leaving the doctor I was prompted by the Spirit to thank the ladies at the front desk for getting me in to see my doctor so quickly. I tend to think these small requests by God irrelevant. Really? I tell myself. Your ‘Thank you’ doesn’t really make a difference in this vast, fast paced world of coming and going. Just get out of here, and get on with your day. But pausing at the door, under my breath of excuses, I heard, Express your gratitude for how they made room for you today, and you will be thanking Me. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
With a brightened countenance, the busy receptionist behind the desk responded, “We really need to hear that. That’s not something we hear often.”
Life’s quiet voice, deep inside, where no ear hears, has power to remove the clog of a rushing world. The voice of God stills the waves, lightens the heart, speaks comfort into the hardness of our current circumstance.
Are you tired? “I am your strength.” (Psalm 28:7) Are you wounded? “He heals the brokenhearted.” (Psalm 147:3) Are you lonely or grieving? “I am with you.” (Psalm 23:4)
Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, you know what we need before we even ask. Open our ears wide to Your saving voice. Help us understand that with every act of obedience, we’re moving closer into the heart of God. Your Son Jesus has made a way. Let us not waste one more sanctifying opportunity to be fully known by You. Amen.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3
The Lord needs no device to see the hidden intents of our heart. For He is light and “there is no creature hidden from His sight.” (Hebrews 4:13) This truth is of great comfort to those who seek good, and most worrisome for the those who do evil.
I was so grateful to get a last minute doctor appointment yesterday to have a clogged ear opened. Swimming in the pool had done a number on my ability to hear. Interestingly, I noticed how all sound indicating life inside my body was heightened—breathing, chewing, swallowing, the beating of my heart. Yet, all exterior noise was muffled. Unless he yelled, I couldn’t make out anything my husband was saying. And if I’m being honest, there were moments I pretended not to hear him. When I didn’t feel like responding, I made no eye contact. And because my husband tired of raising his voice, he forfeit his request.
We do this with God. There are situations when God prompts us, and it’s usually out of our comfort zone. When we know His commands and resist hearing and responding, God takes note of our actions. And not only does He see—His Spirit is grieved by our inaction. Because I am His daughter, I bring sorrow by pretending not to hear my Father.
Ephesians 4 tells us to “put away lying” “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” We tend to think a lie is something we tell, something untrue spoken out loud. But we lie when we act as though something is true when we know it’s not. Pretending not to hear the Spirit of God is lying by omission. It’s easy to listen when we want something. It’s painfully sanctifying when we obey under great conflict.
When leaving the doctor I was prompted by the Spirit to thank the ladies at the front desk for getting me in to see my doctor so quickly. I tend to think these small requests by God irrelevant. Really? I tell myself. Your ‘Thank you’ doesn’t really make a difference in this vast, fast paced world of coming and going. Just get out of here, and get on with your day. But pausing at the door, under my breath of excuses, I heard, Express your gratitude for how they made room for you today, and you will be thanking Me. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
With a brightened countenance, the busy receptionist behind the desk responded, “We really need to hear that. That’s not something we hear often.”
Life’s quiet voice, deep inside, where no ear hears, has power to remove the clog of a rushing world. The voice of God stills the waves, lightens the heart, speaks comfort into the hardness of our current circumstance.
Are you tired? “I am your strength.” (Psalm 28:7) Are you wounded? “He heals the brokenhearted.” (Psalm 147:3) Are you lonely or grieving? “I am with you.” (Psalm 23:4)
Let’s pray: Heavenly Father, you know what we need before we even ask. Open our ears wide to Your saving voice. Help us understand that with every act of obedience, we’re moving closer into the heart of God. Your Son Jesus has made a way. Let us not waste one more sanctifying opportunity to be fully known by You. Amen.
