It’s impossible to go anywhere these days without overhearing other people’s “private” conversations. Folks tend to chatter away no matter where they are or who is within earshot. If you’re like most people, you’ve cultivated the ability to hear-without-listening. And while this is a pragmatic strategy for everyday life, it is a disastrous way to approach your relationship with God.
In Isaiah 55:3, God admonishes us to, “Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you.” All too often, God’s truth does not penetrate the control center of our lives. But when you “incline your ear,” that is, lean earnestly toward God, incline your whole personality and really listen, then deep within your soul you will receive all good things. Indeed, you will experience such quality and intensity of life that you will be amazed.
But there is a cost for this benefit. God, in effect, makes a proposition; the Bible calls it an “everlasting covenant.” It’s this: You must forsake any wicked way and stop thinking bad thoughts and return unto the Lord. It’s just as simple as that.
This is a change that may not be easy. It will require courage and discipline. But Isaiah 55:12 promises that if we accept His proposition, life will be so wonderful that it will be just as if the mountains and the hills were singing and every tree was clapping its hands. Good things, not bad things, will happen to you. And this flow of goodness will never cease as long as you live.
Have you heard God’s voice? Are you certain, or unsure? Take our survey to help us discover where, when and how our readers communicate with God. We’ll share the results in a future issue of Mysterious Ways magazine.
