Day 6 Shush! Listen

 

1/6/2026

"The man or woman useful to God is not simply the first 

to act, but he first to listen."

"Sometimes the obedient thing to do is nothing."

Daily Walk

 

Have you ever met someone who talked incessantly, so that your conversation really was a monologue rather than a dialogue between the two? Or someone who doesn't take a breath between sentences, so that you can respond, then gets mad at you, because you haven't responded? Have you ever fallen asleep on the other end of the telephone line when listening to someone go on and on, repeating themselves frequently? Sadly, I have and often. It is a perplexing situation that begs for advice as to how to get someone to breathe! without having the phone slammed down in your ear or worse! It is such a powerless feeling, and it is very disheartening.

Words are so important, especially words of life that we find in the scriptures. I love gel highlighters, and I love my Bible, and I love highlighting important passages of scripture that jump off the page at me. But then, everything leaps off the page, and it's all so good. I can't get enough of reading, learning, gleaning fresh insight, and His faithfulness is new every morning! This love of God's word began in my very early childhood, and over the past thirty years it has exploded within me. Today I went to the dump, and I met a lady who works there. I simply smiled at her and said "Good morning, how are you today?" She responded in kind and spoke of the beautiful day. I then said, "Happy New Year!" She responded in kind, but then said, "It's not really the new year until later, Biblically speaking," and she smiled. I told her she was speaking my language. Obviously, this lady is either Jewish or like me, a Gentile who loves Israel and God's chosen people. I hope the next trip to the dump will be a day she is working, as I'd dearly like to continue our conversation. I hope she feels the same. She did seem happy that I noticed her and spent time talking. Often we do so little of that - acknowledging others as we hurry through life, doing seemingly mundane tasks, but nothing should be ordinary or mundane. Each day should be an adventure and an opportunity to advance the Kingdom of God. That's the example Jesus gave us, and He commanded us to follow suit.

There's too much noise in our world today, and the general overtone is one of anger and dispute. I have never seen the likes of it, honestly, but I do know the root source, but his time is growing short, and he knows it. So every little crack and crevice that he can sneak into and do his damage, he seeks out. People, even the church, are all too willingly falling into the trap of listening to lies, doing nothing, but a remnant is standing up and speaking out. My prayer for this year is that the body of Christ, those who call themselves followers of Christ, will begin this year by setting aside time to seek the Lord. I include myself in this prayer. to really seek Him thru prayer, fasting, repentance, and just listening for His voice. It may require that we shut themselves off from the things that distract us from spending time in the Word. Even good things can become distractions, but the time to seek God for the answers we need is now. No longer can we sit idly by and do nothing. 

Honestly, I don't know what to say to anyone, except wake up from your slumber. I have said it so many times, but it is true: There is a high cost of discipleship, following Jesus. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes to the Father, except through Jesus Christ our Lord. The way is narrow, not wide like the world with all its distractions meant to entrap and ensnare us. We need Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. In Hebrews 11:1 faith is described as: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Verse 6 continues, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." As I have shared before, the entire chapter of Hebrews 11 is about the faithful who obeyed God and were considered righteous before Him. God made each one a promise, and they believed He would do it. They all died in faith without every seeing the promise revealed. But God always does what He says He will do. He is a covenant keeping God. I want to be included with those who have been faithful to the call of God, but the time is short, and the time for action is now. 

Now is the time to silence the cacophony of the world and the noise within our own lives, present ourselves before the throne of God and earnestly seek Him for the plan He has for each of us. Take the time to sit in His Presence and listen for the still, small voice. Then do what He says!