Daily Rebellionનમૂનો

Day 9: To Listen or Not to Listen . . . That Is the Question

Listening well doesn’t come naturally for most of us. We live in a world that values speed, productivity, and speaking our minds—but Scripture reminds us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak” (James 1:19). And nowhere is listening more vital than in our relationship with God. Jesus said, “I no longer call you servants… Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15, NIV). Friendship with God means communication—both speaking to Him and listening for His voice.

Jesus also said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27, NIV). Hearing His voice isn’t reserved for “super Christians.” It’s part of what it means to belong to Him. But in order to hear, we must pause—removing distractions, silencing noise, and making space for Him to speak.

God’s voice most often comes through His Word. Paul wrote, “When you received the word of God… you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13, NIV). The Bible is His living voice to us—correction, encouragement, instruction, and hope. If what we think we’re hearing doesn’t align with it, it isn’t Him.

The danger of ignoring His voice is real. God warned Israel, “If you do not obey the LORD your God and do not carefully follow all his commands… all these curses will come on you and overtake you” (Deuteronomy 28:15, NIV). Not listening can derail our lives, lead us into regret, and distance us from the blessings He intends.

The good news is, we have the Holy Spirit to help us discern His voice: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16, ESV). As we grow in listening, we’ll begin to recognize that inner witness—the Spirit confirming His direction, comfort, or conviction in a way that brings peace and clarity.

Listening is an act of love and trust. It says, “God, I value what You have to say more than my own thoughts or plans.” And when we obey what we hear, it not only draws us closer to Him but also tunes our ears to recognize His voice more easily the next time.

And here’s the beautiful truth—God isn’t playing hide-and-seek with His will. He wants to be heard. He delights in speaking to His children, guiding them, and revealing His heart. When you position yourself to listen with expectancy, you’ll find He is already speaking—you simply needed to make room to hear.

Reflection:
When was the last time you paused long enough to truly listen for God’s voice? What step could you take today to grow in recognizing and obeying what He says?