Have modern day believers become hard of hearing the precious voice of the Lord?

Do continual internal conversation and external noise drown out God’s quieter whispers to us?

I considered these questions as I went through my day. From the outside, I heard pings as text messages came to my cell phone, the home phone ringing as telemarketers called, and the news on the car radio regularly interrupting the music. In my mind, I rehearsed unpleasant things I had to complete and formed negative self-assessments. All this was compounded by the enemy’s subtle, yet persistent condemnation.

I am concerned I am becoming desensitized to the still small voice of my Lord and instead tune into the clamoring noise around me. I am purposeful during the first moments of the day, but as the day progresses, I notice multitasking and selective listening take over. The more I am doing, the less I can focus on listening.

“Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6 :4

In the Bible, the definition for the word hear, “shema,” encompasses acting upon what is heard, responding to what was spoken. If I am not hearing, then I am not able to follow the Lord’s guidance in my life, and instead I am depending on my own unsound reasoning.

He who has ears let him hear.

Speak Lord, your servant is listening.

Even so, I am distracted. Listening and blocking out the distractions is not easy for many of us. However, I want to be intentional about hearing God. If I have missed what He is saying, is there any point to the rest of what I am doing? He will show me adjustments to make so I don’t just go careen off a cliff. He may give me an idea to encourage another. He may speak a word into my heart to strengthen me. He reminds me of truth to use as a shield against the enemy’s lies.

Today, I will begin to sensitize my ears to hear His voice. In the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, I purpose to listen as not allow one whisper from God to fall upon deafened ears