LISTENING
Today's reading:  Psalm 84-86

"I listen carefully to what God the Lord is saying, for he speaks peace to his people, his faithful ones..."  Psalm 85:8 NLT

There are, at all times of the day, thousands of voices in my head.  No, not the mentally unstable voices, but the voices of doubt, fear, anxiety and trying-to-walk-the-Christian-path-and satan-doesn't-like-it kind of voices, vying for my attention.  For the focus of my listening skills.

I hear what others have said and fixate on how they said it and what they meant by it.  Really meant by it.

I hear what satan wants me to believe are truths, and yet I know he knows nothing of truth.

I hear what accumulates into a lengthy list of why I can't, why I shouldn't and why I won't.

I hear a barrage of information provided about what I've done wrong in the past, what I am currently failing at and what I probably have no good reason to attempt.

I hear excuses provided.

I hear complaints against others.

But when I listen closely, carefully and quietly, I hear my Savior.

He speaks peace.  He speaks words of hope.  He speaks only truth.  He speaks words of encouragement.  He speaks lovingly to my heart about what might be coming between He and I, what needs corrected and how He will walk with me through making those corrections.

When I choose to listen I hear God.