Why Don’t We Listen? ∙
Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others. – Proverbs 12:15
Proverbs 3:1-7
Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying.
Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
Why Do We Struggle to Listen to God?
The Scriptures clearly show that the Father desires to connect with us. If God wants to speak to us, why do we often ignore His voice? The answer lies in the natural tendencies of fallen human behavior. Deep down, we are, by nature, self-centered, mainly focused on our own desires and goals. We fear that if we hear the Father speak, He might ask us to do something we don’t want to do. Or maybe He will ask us to stop doing something we enjoy. We want life on our terms, having things our way, whenever we want them.
Moreover, genuinely listening to God can often be unsettling, as it may confront our deeply entrenched beliefs or necessitate significant alterations in our priorities. Our perspectives are largely influenced by our cultural backgrounds and social environments, which can lead to convictions that do not necessarily align with Scripture. Could it be that we simply resist changing our way of thinking and priorities? Resistance is a natural response driven by our desire to maintain homeostasis and control over our lives and choices.
After all, aren’t we convinced that our beliefs and convictions are absolutely correct? Computer programmers face this dilemma. Computer scientist Alan J. Perlis jokingly explained, “There are two ways to write error-free programs; only the third one works.” Two common rules that experienced programmers become familiar with. They are paraphrased as follows:
- If you are absolutely certain that your code is correct, but the program still does not work, then one of the things you are absolutely sure about is wrong!
- It’s always your fault!
Proverbs 14:12 declares, “There is a way before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”
Another reason we may not listen is anger or resentment toward God. When life doesn’t go as we expect, we may blame Him for our circumstances, hardening our hearts against His voice.
The author of Hebrews warns in Hebrews 4:7: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
God Desires to Communicate
Despite our resistance, the Father longs to speak to us. He desires to guide, comfort, and instruct His children. However, when communication breaks down, the issue is never on His end. The Father is always ready and willing to speak; the question is whether we are prepared to listen.
Deuteronomy 6:3 warns, “Listen closely . . . and be careful to obey.”
Faith and Surrender to God’s Plan
Faith is the key to maintaining an open line of communication with God. It keeps us dedicated to His plan, even when it challenges our own understanding or desires. As Charles Stanley notes, “Faith keeps us dedicated to God and His plan for our life.”
REFLECT & PRAY
Faith requires surrender, letting go of our selfish tendencies and trusting God fully. This surrender is not passive but active, involving a willingness to yield to His will and follow His commands.
Father, I wish to let go of my selfish inclinations and place my trust in You as fully as I can. I feel powerless and humbled before You, awaiting Your direction. I aim to surrender and keep surrendering, believing in Your flawless plan for my life.
INSIGHT
The Call to Trust and Listen
The Father has provided a clear and loving way for His children to communicate with Him, opening channels through which we can receive and enjoy the abundant gifts He has prepared. His wish is for every child of the King to develop into a listener, a person who recognizes His voice and reacts. With time, tuning in to the Father should become as instinctive and effortless as breathing.
The Priority of Knowing and Living the Word
At the top of the Father’s priorities for His children is knowing His Word and living it out in daily life. As Wiersbe explains, “The will of God is revealed in the Word of God.”
So the apostle Paul prayed in Colossians 1:9, 10: “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way.”
When we internalize the Word, it transforms our character. Godly character is a wonderful result when we listen to and absorb the Word in our hearts. Loyalty and kindness (steadfast love and faithfulness – ESV) become a pleasing adornment in our lives. The Bible is not meant to be merely read with our eyes. Instead, it should be internalized. Our goal should be for the Holy Spirit to inscribe it on our hearts.
Proverbs 3:3: “Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.”
: “I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”
The Father’s Joy in Blessing His Children
But there’s more. The Father takes great joy and pleasure in doing good for His children. His joy generates joy and delight in us and stimulates worship in our hearts.
Jeremiah 32:40-41: “I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land.”
The Father expresses His unwavering love and faithfulness to His people because He finds deep joy and fulfillment in doing so. This feeling reflects the behavior of any devoted and supportive parent. Think for a moment about the profound implications of this idea; when we fully accept it, it can significantly change the course of our lives. This realization is meant to inspire both gratitude and confidence in Him.
What a tremendous idea: He Likes Me!
As we love and submit to the Father, He works to fulfill His dream for our lives. He promises to guide us and direct our paths, ensuring that we walk in His will.
Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”
Trusting the Father Fully
The Hebrew word for trust, batach, conveys “a profound sense of reliance and surrender.” “It paints a vivid picture of lying helpless and facedown, like a servant awaiting the master’s command or a defeated soldier yielding to a conquering general.” This level of trust requires us to let go of our own understanding and place our confidence entirely in God.
Tragically, we often choose to depend on our own comprehension and thoughts, which can lead us away from the Father’s perfect plan. As Wiersbe explains, “It simply cautions us not to depend on our own wisdom and experience or the wisdom and experience of others.”
Examples from Scripture illustrate the dangers of relying on human understanding:
- Abraham trusted his own judgment when he went to Egypt during a famine (Genesis 12:10-20).
- Joshua acted impulsively when attacking the town of Ai without seeking God’s guidance (Joshua 7).
When we become “wise in our own eyes” (Proverbs 3:7), we risk straying from God’s path and heading toward trouble.
Isaiah 53:6: “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.”
God’s Promise to Guide
The Father’s promise to guide us is not based on our performance but on our willingness to trust Him fully. By surrendering our own understanding and seeking His will, we align ourselves with His divine plan. This trust is built on confidence in His faithfulness and love. The Father’s joy in blessing and guiding us, as revealed in His Word, demonstrates His unwavering commitment to us.
Faith involves surrender, letting go of our selfish tendencies and trusting God completely. This surrender is active, not passive; it requires a willingness to yield to His will and follow His commands.
The Father desires a close, open relationship with children of the King, founded on trust, faith, and obedience. By listening to His voice, internalizing His Word, and surrendering our own understanding, we align ourselves with His perfect plan. His promises are dependable, His guidance is certain, and His joy in blessing us knows no limits.
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© Dr. H 2025
Dr H Reflections 