Daily Journal: 9 September

Listening to God

Ecclesiastes 1:1-5 (NIV)

Guard [number] your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. A dream comes when there are many cares, and many words mark the speech of a fool. When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.

This is a reminder that time spent with God is to go near to listen. Not to make rash statements, promises or quick repentant prayers. Not to hastily peel off all the restless things in our heart. If we say something, let it be meaningful. Try and include the Spirit of God so that He can direct our thoughts and our thoughts can then be profitable and direct our actions. Listening is just as active as talking. Except it's quiet.

Throughout the day, we often think we’re doing well when we’re constantly talking to God; thinking that we’re including Him in everything. But it is more beneficial to constantly be in a state of listening, receiving, and communion with Him.

Communion is an unusual word – it means sharing or exchanging intimate thoughts and feelings (DEFINITION FROM OXFORD LANGUAGES). It’s not just talking, it’s sharing and listening.

Throughout the night, dreams can come. We can have dreams of the soul or dreams of the spirit. Dreams are important as they give us understanding. God may choose to speak to us through dreams when the blur of our cares and chatter to Him cannot drown out His voice to us. We should seek Him for the correct interpretation of them. Jeremiah 23:32 cautions us that dreams can be false and make us reckless. But Genesis 40:8 assures us that God is the one who interprets dreams. So, if God is speaking to us in dreams, He is also able to give us clear understanding.

Listening to God is like being fed. We are connected, nourished, and given instruction. That’s why it’s important to come to His sanctuary in the morning as we arise, giving Him the first part of our day so that we can begin to listen to Him.