Listen

What is God saying to you through the text?

Reflect

So many times one of the hardest things for us to do is the first admonition in this verse. Shema or shuh-mah. Shema is Hebrew for Hear or Listen and the jewish people have said the shema, which is the verse that we just read in Deuteronomy two times a day for centuries, morning and night reciting this as a prayer to God. How hard is it for you to stop and listen? To Shema? In a world that is full of distractions, noises, responsibilities, and the latest release or podcast you just have to listen to how hard is it for you to stop and just listen… to hear God’s voice in the midst of the business?

I don’t know about you but I have found it hard at times to listen. I love to be on the go, doing things, making stuff happen, enjoying life so the idea of stopping and just listening is hard for me to practice at times. I remember going to a silent retreat one time and the entire day we could not speak… just listen or shema. I would love to tell you that I did amazing but to tell you the truth it was really difficult. To stop and listen was like stepping on a boat that tosses back and forth in the ocean. It doesn’t feel normal and it is easy to lose your balance.

It took time and focus but eventually, I was able to get my footing and just shema. What would it look like for you to stop and just listen or hear from God?

Prayer

God, help me to listen to you, to not get so distracted and busy that I don’t take time to hear from you. It is easy for me to get so busy doing that I don’t spend time listening to you. In my stillness would you speak to me and help me as I trust in you and desire to live in step with you Lord? Amen.

Do

Take some time today to shema. Spend 5-10 minutes being still and just listening to God. At the end of your time recite Deuteronomy 6:4-5 as a prayer to God.