WHY IS LISTENING AN IMPORTANT SPIRITUAL SKILL?

LISTENING TO GOD IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARD OBEYING HIM.
Moshe called all the people of Yirael together and said, -- Listen carefully to all the laws and regulations I am giving you today. Learn them and be sure to obey them! -- Deuteronomy 5:1. The people had entered into a covenant with Elohim and Moshe commanded them to hear, learn and follow his statutes. Believers also have entered into a covenant with Elohim -- through Yeshua Moshiach -- and should be responsive to what God expects. Moses’ threefold command to the Israelites is excellent advice for all Elohim's followers. Listening is absorbing and accepting information about Elohim. Learning is understanding its meaning and implications. Obeying is putting into action all we have learned and understood. All three parts are essential to a growing relationship with Elohim.

LISTENING FOR GOD IS TRAINING IN HUMILITY.
After the earthquake there was a fire, but Adonai was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And a voice said, -- What are you doing here, Elijah --1 Kings 19:12-13 Elijah knew that the sound of the gentle whisper was Elohim’s voice. He realized that YHVH doesn’t reveal Himself only in powerful, miraculous ways. To look for YHVH only in something big -- rallies, churches, conferences, highly visible leaders -- may be to miss Him, because He is often found gently whispering in the quietness of a humbled heart. Are you listening for Elohim? Step back from the noise and activity of your busy life and listen humbly and quietly for His guidance. It may come when you least expect it.

SPIRITUAL LISTENING INVOLVES THE HEART AND MIND.
He replied, -- You are permitted to understand the secret about the Reign of Elohim. But I am using these stories to conceal everything about it from outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: They see what I do, but they don’t perceive its meaning. They hear My Words, but they don’t understand. So they will not turn from their sins and be forgiven.’ -- Mark 4:11-12 We hear with our ears, but there is a deeper kind of listening with the mind and heart that is necessary in order to gain spiritual understanding from Jesus’ words. Some people in the crowd were looking for evidence to use against Yeshua; others truly wanted to learn and grow. Yeshua’s Words were for the honest seekers.

SPIRITUAL LISTENING REQUIRES AN OPENNESS TO GOD.
Some people do not understand YHVH’s truth because they are not ready for it. Elohim reveals truth to people who will act on it, who will make it visible in their lives. When you talk with people about Elohim, be aware that they will not understand if they are not yet ready. Be patient, taking every chance to tell them more of the truth about YHVH, and praying that Ruach HaKodesh will open their minds and hearts to receive the truth and act on it.

SPIRITUAL LISTENING ALLOWS US TO LEARN FROM OTHERS.
My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry. Your anger can never make things right in Elohim’s sight. -- James 1:19-20 When we talk too much and listen too little, we communicate to others that we think our ideas are much more important than theirs. James wisely advises us to reverse this process. Put a mental stopwatch on your conversations, and keep track of how much you talk and how much you listen. When people talk with you, do they feel that their viewpoints and ideas have value?

SPIRITUAL LISTENING IS ALWAYS FOLLOWED BY ACTION.
It is important to listen to what YHVH’s Word says, but it is much more important to obey it, to do what it says. We can measure the effectiveness of our Bible study time by the effect it has on our behaviour and attitudes. Do you put into action what you have studied?