Drop everything and listen when God speaks
Psalm 95:7-11(MSG) Drop everything and listen, listen as he speaks: “Don’t turn a deaf ear as in the Bitter Uprising, As on the day of the Wilderness Test, when your ancestors turned and put me to the test. For forty years they watched me at work among them, as over and over they tried my patience. And I was provoked—oh, was I provoked! ‘Can’t they keep their minds on God for five minutes? Do they simply refuse to walk down my road?’ Exasperated, I exploded, ‘They’ll never get where they’re headed, never be able to sit down and rest.’”
What a powerful statement. Drop everything and listen when God speaks. When God speaks, we must pay attention. During the time in the desert, the people of Israel complained ten times, and therefore missed the promise of God. Here are the instances where the people of Israel complained:
They lacked faith before crossing the Red Sea.
They complained about the bitter water at Marah.
They complained in the desert, wanting to go back to Egypt.
They collected more manna than they were supposed to.
They attempted to collect manna on the Sabbath.
They complained over the lack of water at Rephidim.
They engaged in idolatry in the golden calf incident.
They complained at Taberah.
They complained over the lack of food.
They failed to trust God and enter the Promised Land.
When we fail to pay attention to God and His word, it impedes our ability to be heard by God. Proverbs 28:9(MSG) says: God has no use for the prayers of the people who won’t listen to him.
Kay Arthur eloquently states: “The will of God for your life is simply that you submit yourself to Him each day and say, ‘Father, Your will for today is mine. Your pleasure for today is mine. Your work for today is mine. I trust You to be God. You lead me today and I will follow.’”
The person who listens to God is happy and joyful. They are blessed with prosperity. Luke 11:28(AMP) affirms: But He said, “On the contrary, blessed (happy, favored by God) are those who hear the word of God and continually observe it.”
Luke 6:46(AMP) questions: “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not practice what I tell you?
Job 36:11(NLT) provides assurance: “If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.
Henry Blackaby wisely points out: “If you know that God loves you, you should never question a directive from Him. It will always be right and best. When He gives you a directive, you are not just to observe it, discuss it, or debate it. You are to obey it.”