Ear Plugs & Jesus

The other night my husband and I were talking about how well we slept the night before. I always sleep with ear plugs because our little dog Charlie snores so much. I told him that I sleep best when I put those ear plugs in because all I can hear is Jesus.

Well, I started thinking about what I said and realized that ear plugs and Jesus are a great idea. Shutting out everything outside of our mind and protecting quiet time with Jesus is essential for living a happy and blessed life.

The Bible emphasizes truly listening for His voice when we pray. Outside distractions quickly draw us away from hearing Him speak into our spirit. Engaging in prayer is not just about talking to Jesus but also listening for His voice as you sit quietly. We are too quick to call on Jesus and blast Him with all our problems, our needs, and our struggles. And then we quickly whisper ‘amen.’   Our duty as a Christian has been satisfied. We prayed and checked that off our list for the day.

Unfortunately, we do not sit still. We do not take the time to listen for Him. What if we just sat there and thanked Jesus for everything, even the trivial things? But what if we quietly listened for Him to talk to us? What would He say? Would He tell you what a blessing you are to others? Would He nudge your heart to pray for someone else? Perhaps, He would whisper words of peace into your spirit and let you know that things are going to be all right if you simply trust Him.

Jesus taught us how to pray in the Bible.

We should come into His presence with respect and honor Him for who He is. We must thank Him for always providing the things that we need. We must ask for forgiveness for our trespasses and forgive those who do us wrong. He expects us to share our heart with Him when we pray. Be real. He already knows how we feel, but He wants us to tell Him. When we call on His name, He will always listen. Just like when a child runs up to her daddy and sits in his lap and tells him what she wants. Her daddy usually gives her just what she asks for if it is good for her. We should be like that child, running to Jesus, to tell Him our heart.

John 14 reminds us that the Holy Spirit plays a significant role in helping us discern Jesus’ voice. Father God sent the Holy Spirit to help bring to our remembrance all the things that are important. We must cultivate a habit of listening to Jesus, building a deeper relationship with Him so He can guide our daily steps. Without a relationship with Him, you will not hear His voice.

To discern God’s voice, we must engage in prayer, study the Bible, seek Godly counsel, and remain open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. And to do that, we must tune out the world! “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27). Does He know you? Have you heard His voice? Discerning His voice requires having a personal and deep relationship with Him. Feelings of peace, joy, or conviction shows alignment with God’s will. However, chaos, indecisiveness, and confusion suggest you are out of alignment. We must pay attention when He speaks to us.

Be intentional. Put those ear plugs in and listen for His voice. You will have the best peace of mind and spirit if you do!

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