||40days|| week four: listen

Our ||40days|| journey through Lent continues this fourth week with attention to the theme: ‘listen’. In previous weeks, we have looked at the journey of Lent, the need to acknowledge things in our lives, and then to turn from them. But what should we turn toward? If we are to turn away from sin, evil, distractions, and busyness, then we must turn toward something positive.

Hear Me, My people, and I will warn you – if you would only listen to me! (Psalm 81:8, NIV)

In the midst of our journey with Jesus, we must give our attention to the voice of the Lord. His voice is the one that we must harken to in the midst of so many other voices calling out for our attention. One of the greatest difficulties with the people of Israel that we see in the Old Testament, however, is that they did not turn to the voice of the Lord. Even so, in the very same psalm mentioned above, we read these words from God:

But My people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to Me. (Psalm 81:11, NIV)

As we enter this week, turn to God and tell Him that you want to hear His voice. Ask Him to open your ears that you might hear Him. Ask Him to speak to you clearly today and the days ahead.