Tuesday, February 25th

We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.
– Epictetus

If we are honest the truth is that we are master communicators when it comes to talking, but when it comes to listening we’re not so good. Looking back on our lives, how many problems could we have avoided if we had simply listened? Isn’t it true that some of the biggest mistakes in your life could have been avoided if you had just spoken less and listened more? Maybe your mistake was a bad relational decision, maybe a bad financial decision. If you think back, someone tried to warn you but the volume of your own words were so loud that you were not able to listen.

In an intimate relationship there needs to be two-way communication. The truth is that most of the time we’re more interested in speaking than we are in listening. This same dynamic happens in our relationship with our Heavenly Father; we’re quick to tell Him everything we want Him to do, but slow to listen. Often from God’s perspective the answer to our prayers is something He wants to say rather than what we’re asking Him to do. When it comes to an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father we need to learn to prioritize time alone with Him to both speak and listen.

Jesus, while on this earth, modeled for us prioritizing time alone with His heavenly Father. Jesus prioritized His time alone with God above the needs of the people, above His rest, above His ministry; Jesus prioritized His time alone with God above everything. If Jesus, in spite of being God in a body, in spite of all His power and Glory, prioritized time alone with God, how much more should we prioritize time alone with God?

If we’re going to grow in an intimate relationship with God, going to church or listening to a message on the radio is good but not good enough. God wants an intimate relationship with you. God wants to communicate with you intimately. God wants you to separate time to be alone with Him.

Bible Reading
Mark 1:32-36

That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

Additional Reading
Mark 6:45,46
Luke 5: 15,16

Heavenly Father my desire is to spend more time with you, forgive me when I get distracted. I also ask that when you and I are alone, I would know when to listen. I don’t want to miss hearing what you want to say to me.