Listening

Jerry and I have been having lunch every other week for about a year.  I really enjoy the fellowship, conversation, and the friendship.  During our last lunch we talked about listening.  To many in this country listening is a lost art.  We are so busy thinking about what we are going to say next, we do not listen to what other person is saying.  We are talking at, not with another person.  One of the many reasons I enjoy our lunches is the feeling we are truly listening to each other.

Okay, now the question is where am I going with this?  If we are to be disciples of Jesus, that means we have to follow him.  How do we do this?  First, we read his words, then struggle to understand, then apply those words to our life.  I have been reading and rereading the Bible for over 30 years.  Yes, I know many of you are reading the Bible and memorizing larger portions of the Bible.  I really respect all who do this.  I find that each time I read the Bible new ideas jump out at me.  Second, we have to talk with Jesus.  That means pray.  Many times I feel my prayer life is a monolog.  I do all the talking and I do not listen to God.  It seems like God has to whack me between the eyes to get my attention, then I listen.

The only way we will grow in our relationship with Jesus is to listen to him.  As we grow in our faith we become, or should become, more sensitive to his voice.  He said "my sheep know my voice."  Granted I still have a long way to go in my faith walk. I know I am not the best example of a disciple, but we are all works in progress.  I know, it seems some days I am at the wrong end of the line.

Let me give you an example of what I mean about listening to God's guidance.  Keep in mind, I am not the best example.  I belonged to the Sports and Health Club for almost 20 years.  The first year of membership I worked out regularly and got into good condition, after that I would go for a week and skip the next three weeks.  I do not like to exercise, by nature I am a slug.  I would rather sit around and read a book or watch a movie.  That explains how I got to weigh over 220 pounds in my 40's.  One of the times I was restarting my workout program I was walking around the track at the club which overlooked 4 tennis courts.  I saw people taking tennis lessons, I just felt prompted to join.  I had not tried to play tennis for over 20 years so I knew I would have to start over.  What happened?  I found out that I really enjoyed playing tennis.  When the club went out of business I joined Northwest Athletic Club because they had a tennis program.  Playing tennis I lost 40 pounds, then I started developing the symptoms for diabetes.  This means I had been a diabetic for at least a couple of years.  I continued to play tennis, eat a little healthier, cut out the sugar, and now weigh under a 150 pounds.  As a diabetic I am prone to heart problems and strokes, I have a family history of both.  If God had not prompted me to start playing tennis I would probably not be here today.  Not everyone gets this kind of miracle in their life, but we have all heard God prompting us.  Listen, that prompting will be important, it might even become part of our witness to others.  One person might not listen, but another will.

If we are to make disciples we, me, have to be prepared to share our testimony with others.  We have to listen to others and speak when God prompts us.  Forming any relationship requires listening,.  Listening to others, more importantly listening to God.