I have lived my entire life with a hearing deficit caused by nerve damage as a child. Needless to say, I am very aware that I have to pay more attention to people when they talk. I learned many years ago how dependent I am on being able to see as much as being able to hear when people talk. You can only imagine the challenges I’ve had during the pandemic and mask regulations. For me, hearing demands my full attention.
As we are working through the New Testament and using the HEAR method as our guide, I hope you have been able to give the Lord your full attention and hear from Him. He really has something to say and it’s not just a general message for all Christians, but it is a word just for YOU! I promise. That’s why I love this method. I get to sit down, open my Bible, read the inspired words of God, and then listen for His whisper to MY heart…not yours, not Pastor’s…my heart. I get to have a daily, personal conversation with the Creator God who loves me, gave Himself up for me, and has a purpose and plan for my life.
I hope you’re nodding right now because you know exactly what that experience is like. You know what it feels like to be reading a passage and have the Lord nudge you to go back and “read that again,” and when you do, you realize how timely that verse or passage is for the circumstances in your life at the moment. It’s God letting you know that He’s on top of things and that His grace or power is sufficient.
If this seems like “Super Christian” language, I promise it’s not. You don’t need a degree in theology to hear from the Lord. You just need to embrace the time to sit quietly with scripture and read it with full attention and anticipation that He has something for you. As stated in the HEAR method, the “H” is simply noting verses that seem to make you pause and think, even if just a second. That pause is the Lord giving you a nudge. Then, as you review the verses you noted, underlined, or highlighted, you’ll find the Lord really grabs your attention on one and you’ll know why. And that’s where the intimacy of God shows up. Just sit and listen to His whisper.
The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by. ”Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. – 1 Kings 19:11-13