A New Year of Listening

A New Year of Listening to God

Recently, our phone rang and caller-ID came up on the television identifying a dear friend.  As I answered the phone, I knew how my time would be spent for the next hour or so.  I also knew that, during that hour, I would be doing mostly listening, with very little speaking.  When the phone rings from that particular friend, I know that she needs to talk, that she probably does not have time to listen and that when she is done venting, the call will be over. 

Not only will it be a lengthy call of listening only, but she becomes easily distracted while she is talking if she hears me doing any other task, like putting away dishes, putting on the washer or dryer, or cooking.  Therefore, the time must be exclusively hers.  Because I love her, I am fine with that.  Occasionally, though, I do wish that she would call, ask me something, wait for an answer, listen to it, and, possibly, even apply what we discuss in her life.  Maybe that will happen, someday…

After my friend and I hung up, in answer to my new year’s prayer of self-examination, of 2 Corinthians 13:5, and Holy Spirit examination, of Psalm 139:23-24, I heard the small, still voice of the Holy Spirit speak to me, revealing that I have often done the same thing to my Heavenly Father that my sweet friend so often does to me.  At times, I have plied heaven with my prayers, venting, asking, and weeping, but then I fail to listen for an answer.  One of my pet peeves is the insincerity we often display, asking someone a question and not waiting for or listening for an answer.  Yet, we so often do the same thing to God.  We may make time to pray, but we seldom make time to listen for an answer.

In Psalm 46:10, God instructs His children to "be still, and know that I am God".

Following a weekend to celebrate Christmas with our son and his precious wife and four babies, I reflected on the busyness which has devoured our lives.  I have such admiration for my daughters-in-love.  One works outside of the home then comes home to care for our son and their two teenage daughters.  The others works inside the home, caring for their four little ones, seven and younger, and serves in their church and local charities.  Grandchildren have music lessons, ballet, sports, tennis, and tutoring.

That particular weekend, I was speaking at a banquet at their home church.  I was due to be at the event at 6:15 p.m.  Following a whirlwind day of preparing her table for the event, making her a dish to take, chauffeuring three children to and from school and to lessons and tutoring, I was helping the oldest with homework at 5:55 p.m. and wasn’t even dressed for the event.  I get exhausted just thinking about it!

Yet most of us find ourselves on the treadmill of life at much the same pace, unsure, unwilling, or unable about how to get off or slow down.  I was born during an era when polio was rampant; our mothers taught us from an early age that cleanliness was next to godliness.  To this day, I wash my hands so often that I must use lotion to stay hydrated. 

This generation, however, has a new mantra:  busyness is next to godliness.  I often share with women something I heard years ago: we must be careful about the good that comes as a result of being busy at the expense of the best of, occasionally, making a point to be at rest.  Busy can become an acronym for Being Under Satan’s Yoke.

In this new year, I have purposed in my heart to allow the Lord to cull my life.  To ask Him to help me to separate the good which comes at the expense of His best for me.  Above all, to ask Him to satisfy my heart only when I learn to be still so that I can know that He is God.

© 2011 Gerry Sisk

(01/26/11)