How You Listen

 "Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

— Luke 8:18

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

I've been considering how I listen. Recently, I got hearing aids. I've had hearing loss for many years and have managed to live with it by preferring quiet environments where I can hear better, by learning to read lips, and by filling in gaps in a conversation with context. But this last year, I've been missing more and more of those conversations, I've felt withdrawn and isolated in noisy environments, and I've been weary of the mental strain from leaning in to hear and understand others. So, now I wear hearing aids. What I've noticed most is that I don't have to strain to listen. I can listen easily, effortlessly.

Spiritual growth follows momentum. The more I listen to you, the more I grow. The habits and spiritual health I cultivate by listening to your voice creates greater habits and health. And soon what once was an effort and a mental strain, becomes easier and effortless. I've gained an ability to spiritually listen better. The volume of your voice has increased and I no longer feel overcome by the noisy environments around me. I no longer feel withdrawn and isolated. And I no longer am trying to fill in the gaps of our conversations with my own understanding.

For those who do not have that ability to listen to your voice and aren't making the investment to increase their ability, they experience spiritual hearing loss. What they think they have is slowly taken from them. Your voice grows more distant, more faint, and more obscure.

Gracious Lord, today may I consider carefully how I listen. May my spiritual ears be attuned to Your voice. May I grow in my ability to hear You clearly. May I even pick up the subtle intonations and nuances in Your voice. Lord, what I have now, I humbly ask for more. Thank You for speaking to me today!

— In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen!

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