Eyes to See and Ears to Hear – part 3
When I was a pastor in a wonderful church in Mississippi, we had some serious turkey hunters there and I got to go a few times with some of them. We went hunting early one morning, got still, and started listening for a turkey to gobble. I have heard a turkey gobble, but it was up close – while it was in a pen, not while I was a mile from it in the woods. But these guys had. We heard one, but I thought it came from behind me (I heard the echo) but they heard correctly. They had learned what to listen for, where to listen, how to listen, and when to listen. Their hearing was sharpened to disregard any other sounds but the turkey. There were birds chirping, squirrels, and other critters running around making noise, but they disregarded them and focused upon their subject. When they heard the turkey, they ran to the sound.
I think there are some lessons on listening to God’s voice from this turkey hunt. Not that God is a turkey. But remember, Benjamin Franklin wanted our national bird to be a turkey because it was so intelligent.
1. Get up early. Fewer things are moving at that time and there are fewer distractions.
2. Get still. You can’t hear well when you are moving around and doing all kinds of things.
3. Go to where you can hear God. You need to get to the place where God speaks. God speaks by the Holy Spirit primarily through the Bible and prayer. Get to the place where you have a daily quiet time of sitting before God, reading His Word, praying, and listening.
4. Learn to know what you are listening for. Study how God speaks. Study what God said to different people in Scripture.
5. Focus on actively listening to God’s voice. You can’t turkey hunt just taking a leisurely stroll through the woods. It takes active listening and concentration. You cannot hear from God just strolling through this life and a “devotional” time. You must concentrate your focus on God and His will in prayer and Bible study.
6. Disregard any other sounds, even your thoughts, and feelings. Listen for the voice of the Lord.
7. When God speaks. Obey immediately, don’t hesitate. Run to the sound, not away from it.
