ARE YOU LISTENING?

He wakens me morning by morning,

wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.

Isaiah 50:4b

I would suppose Mary listened intently to every word spoken by Gabriel when he told her she would give birth to the Son of God. Wouldn't you? What an awesome event! It must have been more than a little overwhelming for this young Jewish maiden.

But later - after the fact - I wonder how many mornings she woke early and quietly replayed those words over and over in her mind. How many mornings did she meditate on what all that was spoken to her would ultimately mean? How many mornings did she listen for the still small voice within her spirit to speak confidence and peace?

Do you waken morning after morning and listen to what God wants to say to you? If you do, He will speak daily to you. In all probability, He won't send Gabriel with a message - but speak - He will! He will speak and when He does, He will turn the most ordinary circumstance into something profoundly holy.

God speaks through

• words of wisdom
• words of Scripture
• or words of a song.

God speaks through

• intuitive insight
• nature
• events
• friends
• children
• and sometimes husbands.

God even speaks through

• our mistakes
• or deliberate wrongs someone does to us.

ARE YOU LISTENING?

Father God, thank You for Your tireless efforts to communicate with me. I want to be open, available, listening, ready to participate in Your plan . . . whether in small, quiet, ordinary ways or great. Open my ears to hear Your voice. Grant me faith to obey Your Word.