ListenLearnLove

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash 

I will listen to what the Lord God is saying; Psalm 85:8a 

The people of God have been listening for God for centuries. In 1 Kings 19 the prophet Elijah went on the mountain to listen for the Lord passing by. The Lord was not heard in the powerful wind, or the earthquake, or the fire. Surprisingly the Lord was heard in the sound of sheer silence. Elijah heard his call in the gentle whisper of the Lord. A gentle whisper is subtle. You need to listen to hear it.  

Listening is tricky. Many times we listen with a preconceived notion of what we are listening for. Or we listen with a reaction ready in hand. In pre-marital counseling a key teaching for communication is active listening. With active listening, we listen with an open mind and an open heart to seek understanding. We ask clarifying questions and confirm that we understand what we are hearing before we respond in a thoughtful way. This kind of listening helps us learn about each other and love each other better. 

Our community has been spending the past 5 years intentionally listening for God to guide us in our mission and ministry to a hurting world. We take special time in seasons like Advent and Lent to teach spiritual practices that helps us listen to God. We make time and space for you to listen to the gentle whisper of the Lord in worship, small groups, classes, and meditation. We have been lead to many new ways to love God’s people better in our neighborhoods. We are always asking, “How is God calling you and our beloved community into new ways of sharing the love of Jesus Christ?”

The scriptures for worship this weekend are all about listening for God. We are still listening and looking for new ways to listen and serve in the days ahead. All this will help us hear the gentle whisper of the Lord in our lives and the ways we can share God’s love.

There is more to Psalm 85:8: “I will listen to what the Lord God is saying; for you speak peace to your faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to you.” 

ListenLearnLove, Pastor Andrea