Make Listening Your Motto

The Psalmist in Psalm 85:8 wrote:



"I will listen to what God the LORD will say"



Shama is the Hebrew word for listening. It means to hear intelligently. This word takes on the connotation of obedience in certain contexts, especially in Deut. 6:3-4 when God told the Israelites through Moses to Hear, O Israel. He told them to be careful to obey and to love God with all the hearts, with all their souls, and with all their strength.



God has spoken the 66 Books of the Holy Bible into existence. He speaks through his people. He speaks through his creation (Psalm 19). He also says:

"But oh, that my people would listen to me" (Psalm 81:13)

God is talking, but who is listening? He waits ever so patiently for us to hear what he has to say. When we do, he gives us the strength to obey. Why not make listening to God your personal motto? In turn, God will make you like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not whither. Whatever he does prospers (from Psalm 1). God wants to help us obey and bring his promises to life in all of us. I know this from personal experience. Besides, he has been fulfilling his word for eons and won't ever stop. Will you do your part by listening?