It seems a lot more secure to think that God listens to us than that
we/I listen to God. But it is still something to try to do daily.
Listening to God through what others are saying can sometimes be painful, often inspiring, and even can be life-changing. It is hard, for the most part, to know if it really IS God speaking when we’re being challenged or corrected. Big turnoff time! But sometimes, even if we do not see the person as godly, listening to their challenge may be God urging us to change, or go forward, or give up the rut we seem to be enjoying.
At the same time listening to God through others – friends or not friends – may take some work. Instead of listening only to the actual words that we hear, it may be more important to listen to what is not being said which leads us to a person’s need - hiding itself in a second or third level down from the words we hear. This was pointed out in a sermon I heard years ago in Vermont. This pastor was one renowned for his pastoral skills and who was familiar with all of the tricks his parishioners and all of us use to protect ourselves. When a person is most unlovely may be the very time we are called to listen to the unspoken and to care with the love only God can give us grace to have.
Mother Theresa used to say, “I am only a pencil in God’s hand.” She knew a kind of listening that most of us do not achieve. But every new day is a new chance to try.
Prayer:
God, help us to listen to you in whatever ways we are able, and to trust that you will never call us into any situation where your grace is not enough. If it is important, help us to see what you have called us to do or to hear. If we are not able to do that, help us to do your will anyway. In Christ’s holy name and for his sake we pray. Amen
The Rev. Fran Peel
Listening to God through what others are saying can sometimes be painful, often inspiring, and even can be life-changing. It is hard, for the most part, to know if it really IS God speaking when we’re being challenged or corrected. Big turnoff time! But sometimes, even if we do not see the person as godly, listening to their challenge may be God urging us to change, or go forward, or give up the rut we seem to be enjoying.
At the same time listening to God through others – friends or not friends – may take some work. Instead of listening only to the actual words that we hear, it may be more important to listen to what is not being said which leads us to a person’s need - hiding itself in a second or third level down from the words we hear. This was pointed out in a sermon I heard years ago in Vermont. This pastor was one renowned for his pastoral skills and who was familiar with all of the tricks his parishioners and all of us use to protect ourselves. When a person is most unlovely may be the very time we are called to listen to the unspoken and to care with the love only God can give us grace to have.
Mother Theresa used to say, “I am only a pencil in God’s hand.” She knew a kind of listening that most of us do not achieve. But every new day is a new chance to try.
Prayer:
God, help us to listen to you in whatever ways we are able, and to trust that you will never call us into any situation where your grace is not enough. If it is important, help us to see what you have called us to do or to hear. If we are not able to do that, help us to do your will anyway. In Christ’s holy name and for his sake we pray. Amen
The Rev. Fran Peel
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