the Power of Listening!

Matthew 13:12
      "12 To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them."

I seem to be finding gems in the Word that point out more reasons to keep reading through God's Word this year! Today as I was making my way through my Matthew readings I saw this verse, and it struck me as very true. When we listen, we learn so much; but when we don't listen...well, not so much learning happens then!

I have the perfect example, my cousin posted on her facebook site yesterday (she works with kindergarten children) that one of her students was, yet again telling her about their day, and she tuned them out. All she heard was blah, blah, blah, so when the child was done talking, she said "that's amazing", but as it turns out, the child was trying to tell them about something "bad" because the child had a confused look on their face and said, but it really hurts! Now I know this is somewhat of a silly example, but it's true, how often do we just tune out what is going on around us and miss what we were to have learned? I've done this time and time again to my poor husband (granted, he's done it to me as well, but that doesn't make it right!) and about half way through the conversation...something will trigger and I'll have to make him start all over again.

If I've done this to my earthly husband, whom I can see and actually hear; how much have I done this to my Heavenly Father? I can't see Him, and I can't touch Him; so I KNOW it's that much easier to ignore Him. But His Word points out to me that the more I listen, the more understanding I'll have; not to mention the extra knowledge! If there is one thing I've longed for my entire adult life, it's more understanding of God's word, and here I find that it's MY issue that I'm not gaining that understanding!

As it turns out, this whole "thing" with Jesus, really IS a relationship! I don't know how I've read through the Bible so many times and haven't seen these verses until now, but I have a pretty large feeling that it may have something to do with my listening skills! I think that I've been reading my Bible, but trying to make it say what I want it to say and only paying attention to those parts of the story. Last year, I found so many verses that I normally just skim over that I've really had to slow my reading down and actually listen to the words I'm reading. As an avid reader, that's a really hard thing for me to do! I devour books in my spare time and since my spare time isn't overly abundant, I devour those books at a quick pace; add to that the fact that I read my devotions in the parking garage (it's amazing how quiet a parking garage can be in the mornings!) and sometimes I'm running behind and you've got a recipe for not listening. I wonder why I expect, and get upset, when I feel like God isn't listening to me and my complaints; when I can't be bothered to take the time to listen to Him and His instructions!

I think it all comes back to that two way road of relationships. I also think that I am not keeping my end of that road intact! I'm going to have to work real hard at actually stopping my day to listen to what God is saying to me, through His word and His still small voice! Thank you Jesus for showing me, again, how important it is to listen to You!