Ready to Hear (Jeremiah 30-31, 33)

‘Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ (Jeremiah 33:3)

God does not hide Himself from those who are truly seeking Him.  These words in Jeremiah testify that God is ready to speak when we are ready to hear.  One of the reasons why we don’t always hear from God is that we’re not really paying attention.

To some degree or another, we’re all guilty of listening to someone else talk without really hearing what he or she is saying.  While we may give the impression that we’re engaged in the conversation, our minds are elsewhere – focused on either our response to their words or something else that is the distraction of the moment.  The same can be true with God.

When we approach God in prayer, we must do so in humility – recognizing that He is not a genie in a bottle who is ready to answer our every beck and call.  Rather, we are there to respond to His desires for our lives.  We must seek to clear our minds of distractions and set aside our preconceived notions of what we want to hear back from Him.

God is not a God of silence – He longs to interact with His people.  He is willing to listen and to respond when we are ready to hear.

Father, give me a heart that is willing to hear when You speak.  Keep me from approaching You as a god who is there to do my bidding.  Rather, let me come before You in humility, ready to be shaped into the person You desire for me to be.