There was once a reality show on TV about four guys who enjoy playing pranks on one another. Each one had to do or say funny things to random strangers.
The guys never knew what they were supposed to do, and each one wore an earpiece to hear the instructions in real-time. His friends speak through the earpiece, telling him acts he must perform. Sometimes, the guys did the things, and sometimes they chose not to out of fear or embarrassment. They were “rewarded” by earning points when they completed a task. When they chose not to do a certain task, there was a consequence at the end of the show.
How many times does God whisper in our ears? How many times do we listen?
Don’t you feel joy in following the Lord and listening to Him? You know that He blesses those who listen and follow Him.
What about the times He tells us to do something and we don’t listen?
There’s usually a consequence that follows, or sometimes, we may not see that consequence until we are face to face with God.
Does God ever whisper a thought and you refrain from listening because you don’t want to be embarrassed?
Lord, I can’t pray out loud over my food in this restaurant…what if others hear me and mock me? Lord, I know you are prodding my heart to go speak to this stranger about your love, but what if they laugh at me and tell me to go away? Lord, I can’t tell my children’s friends that we don’t curse in our home because what if they tell their parents and make fun of us?
So what if someone laughs at you for praying?! Listening to God means more.
Who cares if the stranger you approach about God’s love tells you to go away! Listening to God means more.
Big deal if your child’s friend’s parents make fun of you for not allowing foul language! Listening to God means more.
When you feel that prodding on your heart or that whisper in your ear, listen to God.
He wants us to follow Him and listen to His instructions. You will be blessed when you follow God. Don’t shy away from something He asks you to do.
How will you be able to shine that light of Jesus if you don’t listen to Him?
He wants us to shine our light in the restaurant; it may touch the heart of the person sitting at the table next to the one where people are laughing.
He wants us to shine our light while reaching out to a stranger because as that person tells us to go away, the stranger standing in the back may approach you and want to hear more.
He wants us to shine our light when we tell our children’s friends that we don’t allow cursing because, while one parent may make fun of you, another will admire that about you.
Are you listening to God today?
This article has undergone ministry review and approval.
I really like the last paragraph. We shouldn’t shy away because we’re afraid of what people will think. There’s always going to be people who think we’re strange, but on the other hand there are always going to be people who like what they see, too!
I really like the last paragraph. We shouldn’t shy away because we’re afraid of what people will think. There’s always going to be people who think we’re strange, but on the other hand there are always going to be people who like what they see, too!