{"id":9155,"date":"2023-04-03T06:41:34","date_gmt":"2023-04-03T11:41:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joanndownsalo.com\/?p=9155"},"modified":"2026-07-03T08:51:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T13:51:59","slug":"draw-near-to-listen-ecclesiastes-51","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=9155","title":{"rendered":"“Draw near to listen.” Ecclesiastes 5:1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Do not imagine God has nothing to say. We have 66 books, some 1,550 pages, roughly 785,000 words to the contrary. God has wisdom to spare. <\/em><\/strong>There be no shortage of knowledge and insight, no question about it\u2014understanding abounding. <\/em>Surely reading what God has breathed through the lifeless pen of sinful men be as coming to His feet, our hearts reaching for a comfort we can\u2019t even explain, and He instantly lifts us high above our troubles below\u2026<\/em>and all is well with our soul<\/em><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like kids we run to God with our side of the story. We\u2019ve got reasons, excuses, suggestions unending. And the Father waits. Tenderly, patiently He offers us space to settle down. But until we have the courage to still and listen<\/em>, the merry-go-round of our circumstance just keeps spinning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s imagine the ways God tempered Himself before exiting heaven: The Alpha & Omega squeezed into His most breakable creation. The fiercest fire cried like an infant. The wrath of God broke bread with wanton criminals and arrogant intellects. The Sword of the Spirit was crucified in weakness. The Voice of thunder became the faintest whisper. And who did The Great I Am do all this for? A bunch of orphans, who don\u2019t know the first thing about love. Runaways, who hate being told right from wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Misfits like me and you are adopted by God through a fee named Jesus. Every necessary cost, legal expense was paid in full making us eligible children for The Father who wants us in our filthy condition. While we despised the good Jesus had for us\u2014God was preparing a room for us. <\/em><\/strong>Wording how He would carry our burdens, wash our wounds, wipe our tears, calm our fears. Knowing everything we would ever ask\u2014the Holy Spirits\u2019 equipping is here for us. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opening scripture is holy communion. <\/strong>The Bread of Life feeding His children. <\/strong>No one goes hungry who feeds on God\u2019s faithfulness. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen we believe that God hears us, it is but natural that we should be eager to hear Him. Only from Him can come the word which can speak peace to troubled spirits; the voices of men are feeble in such a case, a plaster far too narrow for the sore; but God\u2019s voice is power, He speaks and it is done, and hence when we hear Him our distress is ended.\u201d \u2013Charles Spurgeon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Do not imagine God has nothing to say. We have 66 books, some 1,550 pages, roughly 785,000 words to the contrary. God has wisdom to spare. There be no shortage of knowledge and insight, no question about it\u2014understanding abounding. Surely reading what God has breathed through the lifeless pen of sinful men be as coming to His feet, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":143625079,"featured_media":9158,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_wpcom_ai_launchpad_first_post":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[54418],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9155","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-bible"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pacmrQ-2nF","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2220,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=2220","url_meta":{"origin":9155,"position":0},"title":"How to Pray: An Age-Old Conundrum","author":"Jo Alo","date":"March 11, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Demons of depression chased me home. Hurrying, I pressed into the door. Before turning the handle, I rushed to Jesus,\u00a0Whisper Your sweet everythings into my ears. The one way the raised in Christ endure in all this dust and ash is praying in spirit and truth. God knows I want\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "prayer"","block_context":{"text":"prayer","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=853"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/fc9b8-dsc_0174-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C746&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/fc9b8-dsc_0174-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C746&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/fc9b8-dsc_0174-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C746&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/fc9b8-dsc_0174-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C746&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/fc9b8-dsc_0174-1.jpeg?fit=1200%2C746&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13055,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=13055","url_meta":{"origin":9155,"position":1},"title":"“If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as My mouth.” Jeremiah 15:19","author":"Jo Alo","date":"May 31, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"God was angry with the people He freed. They refused to listen. Oh, they claimed allegiance, but loved to wander.Jeremiah was God's prophet. It was given to him to listen. To be in direct communion with God so he might speak what was right, and that by God, the people\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "a new heart"","block_context":{"text":"a new heart","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=696603"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/andrej-lisakov-dxamplprwnq-unsplash.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/andrej-lisakov-dxamplprwnq-unsplash.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/andrej-lisakov-dxamplprwnq-unsplash.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/andrej-lisakov-dxamplprwnq-unsplash.jpg?fit=800%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2451,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=2451","url_meta":{"origin":9155,"position":2},"title":"God’s Unwavering Regard For Women","author":"Jo Alo","date":"June 4, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Women have to ask for what they deserve. Is it fair?\u00a0No...it's just a fact. Achsah grew up learning her worth. She was the daughter of Caleb, a just man who feared the Lord and fiercely followed God\u2019s commands. Caleb arranged for her to marry the one man who would capture\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Women"","block_context":{"text":"Women","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=598"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/rodion-kutsaiev-tcPUbu8H2c0-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/rodion-kutsaiev-tcPUbu8H2c0-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/rodion-kutsaiev-tcPUbu8H2c0-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/rodion-kutsaiev-tcPUbu8H2c0-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/rodion-kutsaiev-tcPUbu8H2c0-unsplash.jpeg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4501,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=4501","url_meta":{"origin":9155,"position":3},"title":"The Privilege of Scripture: Storytime With Your Savior","author":"Jo Alo","date":"January 3, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Reading Dr Seuss before bed has become our thing. Grandpa is in charge of tickle-tests, 4-wheelers, Oreos and milk. Climbing up, we snuggle under blankets and sheets one, two, three. Eager at what we know is coming: shoulder to shoulder giggling over zany characters, tongue twisters, elephants in trees. Lights\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "reading scripture"","block_context":{"text":"reading scripture","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=4515216"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/simon-maage-zf0wlomxo2y-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/simon-maage-zf0wlomxo2y-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/simon-maage-zf0wlomxo2y-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/simon-maage-zf0wlomxo2y-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/simon-maage-zf0wlomxo2y-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C801&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":20338,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=20338","url_meta":{"origin":9155,"position":4},"title":"Pretending Ears & the Glory of Listening","author":"Jo Alo","date":"August 22, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"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\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "God Speaks"","block_context":{"text":"God Speaks","link":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?cat=183798"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/curated-lifestyle-19qHA0OyC0Q-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/curated-lifestyle-19qHA0OyC0Q-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/curated-lifestyle-19qHA0OyC0Q-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/curated-lifestyle-19qHA0OyC0Q-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/joalo.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/curated-lifestyle-19qHA0OyC0Q-unsplash.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12413,"url":"https:\/\/joalo.org\/?p=12413","url_meta":{"origin":9155,"position":5},"title":"“The word which they heard did not profit them.” Hebrews 3:18 & A Daring Question","author":"Jo Alo","date":"February 4, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"When you read Scripture does it profit you? What I mean is: when you center your heart to hear from God, are you willing to obey what He says? \u2014 willing to say, \"Yes, Lord. I know you're speaking to me.\" Cuz here's the thing . . . 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