Saturday 17 August 2019

Listen to the falling rain


Listen to the falling rain,
Listen to it fall,
And with every drop of rain,
I can hear you call,
Call my name right out loud,
I can hear above the clouds,
And I'm here among the puddles,
You and I together huddle. 
(Jose Feliciano)

Listening is difficult. It requires effort and concentration. When you listen you have to hear, understand, analyse, form an opinion, formulate an answer whether you speak it or not, and act on what you have listened to.

Listening is more than just hearing. We hear many things in our daily life. The sound of the traffic outside, the dog barking or whatever other noises surround us.

But if as we drive we hear a noise from the engine, our brain changes gear to listening, analysing what the noise is and how to deal with it.

Our listening attention depends on who is doing the talking. How important they are. How relevant what they say is to your own priorites and well-being.

It is said that in a successful marriage one of the partners should be slightly deaf. Preferably the husband.

This is because, (so they say), wives tend to prattle on about this and that, what's been on TV, what the neighbour did, what the kids said about school, and so on and so forth. Sometimes the conversation is about tasks undone - taking the trash out, painting the spare room, mowing the lawn etc ... And the husband says, "Yes dear ..." and ignores what's being said. Especially if it interferes with football on the TV.

But if the wife says, "We need to talk ... (it always starts with this sentence) ... I want a divorce!" the husband suddenly listens up and takes his attention away from the TV or whatever he is doing. He knows this time it is serious and he should listen carefully.

We listen carefully depending on the seriousness of what is being said and who is saying it. Our partner, the boss, the doctor, the baby crying ... and so on.

But what if it is God speaking? How important is He? Is anyone listening?

Or is God just speaking to Himself?

20 comments:

  1. Hebrews 3:15: "in that it is said, To-day if ye will hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as in the provocation"; how important to attend to God's speaking!

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  2. What God has to say is very important.
    I believe that we are always in His shadow and within his reach.
    I hear Him speak to me. Not with fire and brimstone but gently and with caring and love.
    God is not remote. He is right there by our side. He speaks to our hearts and we answer Him in prayer~

    Thank you for this reminder Victor.

    God's Blessings~

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  3. I recall someone saying, people tend to remember more of what's being said when it's coupled with humor. You've certainly mastered that!

    While it's not possible to watch His body language or hear His voice speak words we comprehend, (I think) it's critical we listen for his message in non-traditional ways: the cadence of waves, the wind in the trees … our conscience.

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    1. Thank you for your kind words, Mevely. I think if God spoke to me in a voice and a language I comprehend I'd fall off my chair. Can you imagine the phone ringing and God saying, "Hey you ..."

      God bless you, Mevely.

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  4. The sound of the falling rain is an example of God speaking. It is soothing, and it brings life.

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  5. God's voice is the best instruction we could follow and it is always important to act upon and not just be hearers of what He speaks to us through that Word.

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    1. Indeed, He speaks to us in so many ways.

      God bless, Brenda.

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  6. To me, He speaks in lots of ways so I have to pay attention in my daily life. If you're paying attention, you will hear the message.

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    1. I sometimes wish He would speak to me clearly, Bill.

      God bless you.

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  7. Perhaps it's no coincidence that I was just ruminating today about how well I'm listening for God's Word. I think I need more practice in paying closer attention to Him!
    Blessings, Victor!

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    1. As I said to Bill, above, I wish God would speak to me clearly at times. I try paying attention but don't often understand.

      Thank you for your encouraging comment, Martha.

      God bless.

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  8. (Not all wives prattle!!) Made me giggle, Victor. Your humor is boundless and your message here is always spot on! We must always be quiet and listen for what our Lord is saying to us.

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    1. How can I listen to God when she is always telling me what happened when shopping, what's been on TV, what the children did, what the dog did, what the cat did, what ... And you say not all wives prattle???

      God bless you, Terri.

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  9. A good way to hear God speak is to open up the Bible and read it. It's God's word.
    He also speaks to us through the beautiful word he created for us.
    I believe that when we pray and ask God to help us make a decision about ANYTHING, what we decide to do is God telling us.

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    1. I understand, Happyone. You are right of course.

      God bless you.

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  10. That is a very nice scene, so peaceful.
    I like the song by Jose Feliciano too.

    LOL! I have to confess that I can prattle, and I suspect many of us can, and do, both women and men!!!

    But I agree with you, it is so important to listen and at times we are all guilty of not doing so.

    Has the world got too noisy, has it got too busy to care about what is happening. I think we all need to take a few minutes out each day and sit quietly to pray, to listen, to question, to think... I know it helps me.

    All the best Jan

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    1. I agree with what you say, Jan. The world has become too noisy with too much communication on TV, radio, and social media and so on. It seems too many are speaking and few are listening.

      God bless.

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