I'M LISTENING
Today's reading: Ecclesiastes 5-6

"As you enter the house of God, keep your ears open and your mouth shut!.." Ecclesiastes 5:1 NLT

I'll let you in on the routine I follow each and every morning.

-My alarm goes off at 4:45.
-I shower, dress and apply as much make-up as I deem necessary to keep the world from being offended by the 'real me'.
-I drink 24 ounces of water.
-I pray over my sleeping boy.
-I write in my prayer journal.
-I open my Bible to the day's reading.
-I put my Bible aside and bow in front of my prayer chair asking God to come into my time with Him.
-I read the Word, watching for things He points out to me.
-I open up my computer and share with you what He's spoken to my heart, or what's happened lately that ties in with the day's Scripture, or what He and I have decided we're to work on that day (and probably the rest of my life).

Today, I don't want to share.

I really don't.

It's too personal.

It was written for me--might as well have had my picture pasted beside the verse.

It got too close to my heart and is going to hurt, or at the very least be very unnatural and possibly uncomfortable, as I carry out what I believe He's asking me to do.

Keep quiet when I go to worship. Listen more when I go to church. Talk less, only I believe He spoke to my heart, MUCH less when I gather with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

No, I'll not be going into church Sunday not speaking to anyone. That would be going against His desire that we be a family, a body, in one spirit with Him. I could hardly facilitate the Sunday School class I'm thrilled to be a part of. I thoroughly enjoy greeting new folks in our congregation.

But I believe I need to listen more and give opinion less. Listen more and provide fewer commentaries that I usually do. Listen more and offer His words, not my own. Listen more and cultivate the ministry of hearing what's said. Listen more and practice the art of conversation not of taking over the microphone. Listen more to what's being said and the heart issues behind it.

It can be summed up by me just listening more. Really listening.

I don't know what you'll do with what I'm sharing this morning. It doesn't matter to me. You might take it to heart as well. You might hold me accountable come Sunday. You might send me a report card after services as to how I did. You might pray for me--because you know me--because you know my propensity to fill in awkward quiet times with my incessant rattling--because you might have the same inclinations. You might notice I'm listening more and talking less, and that would thrill my heart!