How big is your listening measuring cup?

"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more.  Mark 4:24 NIV

This verse is given at the end of the explanation of the parable of the Sower.  Jesus is explaining to his disciples how God’s word enters our lives to become fruitful.  3 of the soils don’t have the capacity to produce a healthy plant, but the 4^th produces a harvest.  I have studied this passage for many years and have preached about the 4 soils.  But the secret to the soils is found within this verse.

The whole passage is about our focus on receiving, listening, paying attention, and hearing God’s word.  This is the key to becoming fruitful in God’s kingdom.  How hungry are we to wait on “hearing God”?  God responds to our level of interests.  His desire is for hearing and understanding to flow forth in abundance in our lives.  That is what I am praying for you and I right now.

If hearing from God is so important, why is it so hard and how can we get better?

1.       As a child of God it is vital for you to know that everyone has the capacity to hear God…Jesus said in John 10…my sheep hear my voice and the follow me.  He speaks to each of his children regardless of their calling, occupation, intelligence or status in life.  Jesus fixed our hearing loss that happened as a result of the fall of mankind.

2.      God responds to humbly asking for ears to hear.  In fact, He is roaming through out the entire earth looking for those who are intentionally seeking him.  Every time you read the Bible, ask the Lord to speak to you.

3.      God has the ability to break through the hardness of our heart especially when we are full of ourselves.  Don’t be discouraged if you hear “little”, God will help you.

4.      God is speaking, but we “0wn” the responsibility to listen.  How much time and effort do we give to listening to God especially in relation to our listening habits toward other media and conversations with others? 

5.      Repentance is the first spiritual step to clean the wax out of your ears.  There is no other place to start, because repentance recalibrates our spiritual receiving to Holy Spirit’s broadcast.

6.      Celebrate when God speaks to you…that will nurture faith that is necessary to hear even more.  It will also help you to discern His voice from others.

How big is your listening measuring cup?  The one that you use to express your desire to hear from God.  That is the same one (level) God uses to speak to you.  Let’s expect that this cup will increase for all of us.