Hearing

I'm not quite ready to leave Psalm 119 yet.  In looking at the verses about engaging our whole heart, I found several verses that were connected to hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying the Word of God.

               Oh, that my ways were directed and established to observe Your statutes [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]! 

                              Psalm 119:5 Amplified

Verse six goes on to say that we will not fail to inherit God's promises if we live according to His ways. Living God's word is something we will practice at for the rest of our earthly lives. But where do we begin this process?  We start by making one decision at a time.  

The four words in brackets in this verse: hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying are all done on purpose. They are not based on our emotions or what we feel like.  They are the result of our desire to do whatever it takes to live God's way.  They are the things we do to open the doors and windows of our lives to the promised blessings of God.  

Hearing is the first step in this process.  Our thoughts and words are impacted by what we hear.  The casual words of a friend or sermon can become embedded in our hearts and mind. But the most powerful thing we can hear is our own voice speaking the Word of God.

It is foolish to think that hearing God's word in one or two weekly church services is all there is to hearing from God.  It is important for us to hear ourselves declare God's promises.  Amazing things happen when we speak God's word aloud.

The words we speak (just like our thoughts) feed our hearts and influence our lives.  We plant the promises of God in our lives when we declare them out loud as ours.  

The devil cannot read our mind but he can hear our words.  When we speak the Word, we sound just like Jesus did when He resisted the devil's temptation.  You will defeat the devil every time you speak God's word.  When we declare the promises of God, we sound like Christ in the devil's ear and he has to flee.  

What are you saying about your life? Your marriage? Your kids?  Your job?  Your school? Your church?  Does what you say agree with God's word?

As a gardener eats from what he plants, so you will eat from what you speak.  Choose your words wisely.

You can change your life by hearing yourself speak God's word.
Heidirn