He is Listening

Our office has eight women, and depending on the day can be quiet or noisy depending on what each of us is doing when we are in the office.    When the coworker behind me said something to me I immediately responded.  She laughed.

I pulled my ear buds out to see what was so funny.  Apparently the other coworkers in the room had been having a lengthy conversation with me, and thought I was ignoring them.  Then I responded to the one behind me immediately when she walked into the room.   While I was on my lunch break, I plugged in my ear buds and started playing a message that I had not had time to listen to at home.   The ladies around me were talking, so I had turned up the volume.  They did not realize I had my ear buds in.

I had to explain I was not listening to them, but to a podcast and the speaker had paused just as the coworker behind me said my name.  It wasn’t that I was intentionally ignoring them, I was listening to something else.  They all chuckled and gave me the update on what I had missed so I could answer the question they were waiting on me to answer.

I John 5:15 says, “And if we really know He is listening when we talk to Him and make our requests, then we can be sure He will answer us.

God gives me His full attention. I don’t have to worry that I will pour out my heart to Him or ask an important, time-sensitive question only to find out He had his ear buds in.  Unlike myself, my spouse, my child, or any other person, God promises  to list to our prayers; if He is listening He will answer.  I don’t have to worry that the next time I mention something God will respond “You never told me that!”

I dislike having a conversation and realizing that the person is not listening.  Especially when they are responding as if they are listening.  I realize this is not a one way problem within my family or circle, I am often distracted or get so focused on something, even without ear buds in, I am not listening.  I realize that sometimes I do the same with God.

If when I talk God listens, I should be giving Him the same respect.  I shouldn’t allow a busy schedule, my own physical or emotional state, or other distractions to keep me from listening to His voice.  I shouldn’t be so occupied with my own things that I fail to listen to His voice and miss the opportunities He is placing before me.

How many opportunities do we miss because were not listening to His voice?