When Jesus calls....are you listening?

[mlg]

Do you ever hear that still, small voice of the Lord prodding you? Do you listen to Him, or do you just hear Him? Most people don't realize that there is a difference between hearing and listening. Just because you hear something, doesn't mean you will allow the full meaning of what you've heard sink in.

According to the University of Minnesota, Deluth "Hearing is simply the act of perceiving sound by the ear. If you are not hearing-impaired, hearing simply happens. Listening, however, is something you consciously choose to do. Listening requires concentration so that your brain processes meaning from words and sentences."

Taking this definition of listening, we must consciously choose to concentrate on what God is saying. This will allow us to hear His call, and to know what it is He seeks for us to do. I've also found that praying helps when God calls. If I find myself unsure of what it is exactly He wants from me I go to Him in prayer. God will respond to my prayers through the Holy Spirit and bring clarification to what direction He would have me take.

So are you listening to God, or just hearing Him? May you think on this my friends.