Cultivating the Heart: Scripture
When God speaks light shines in the dark. Life comes from death. Hope springs from despair.
If these things are true, ought we not be a people a characterized by listening when God speaks. We see throughout Scripture when God speaks people listen. We also see that, too often, when God speaks people do whatever they want—not heeding his words. The question, then, posed to each of us is this: How well do you listen to God?
In a world that increasingly prioritizes feelings over reason, God’s people have an opportunity to show that emotions stream from right thinking. We want to both have a heart pricked and bleeding as well as a mind strengthened and challenged.
Yet why do we spend so little time listening?
You might say, “Matt, I’m always ready and willing to listen!” That’s great! How do you go about demonstrating that in your relationship with God? That is, how much time do you spend listening to what God has committed to writing for your own growth?
So often my biggest struggles in life and the despair I hear from so many people stems from a failure to listen to God. Much like the in previous posts where I mentioned prioritizing what is of value to you, so also is spending time listening to God speak to you from his Word.
Have you considered that the ecstasy you long for in your relationship with God is fruit from the mundane tilling of the soil of your heart?
We often spend more time listening to others than we do listening to our Creator. We care more about what others think about us, and so we tremble to speak in front of others. We are anxious for being accepted by others, and so we compromise our beliefs in an effort to be loved. We forget because we haven’t listened.
Might I suggest two age-old practices that work? They work because brothers and sisters have been practicing them for centuries and attest to their power. The sad reality is that many probably won’t do them because they require work. You see, whether we admit it or not, we want our relationship with God to be relatively easy with very little trouble. This, again, is due to not reading. Not listening. Have we forgotten the sacrifices Hannah made? Samuel? Aaron? Levi? Jeremiah? Habbakkuk? John? Mary? Joseph? Peter? Paul?
Every saint in Scripture made sacrifices. And when we come to decision-making time of who we will obey, we fail to see that all that God decrees is right and good. All his words are like rain on the desert. All his overtures of grace are first through his speaking into existence.
If you’re serious about cultivating your heart. If you’re serious about communion with the Almighty…then here are the two practices:
Memorize passages of Scripture.
You might say, “Been there, done that.” But how often do you draw upon passages you have memorized? Do you still have them memorized? Dust them off and wield their power yet again! If you don’t have anything memorized you can call to mind, might I suggest these passages to start with: Psalm 27.1; Psalm 37 (yes, the whole psalm) Psalm 119.1-3, 15-16; Psalm 121.1-2; Psalm 139.13-14; Matt 5.3-12; Matt 7.1-5; Rom 6.1-4; 8.1-4; 31-39; Heb 13.5.
Of course, this is just a smattering of texts to stir you to think. There are a multitude of verses you could choose. Just choose 5 verses that build your heart. Memorize them. Savor them.
The second practice is to read large sections of Scripture.
We’re going through Lamentations right now. Read it in one sitting. Read it a second time. Read it a third time. Have your journal out and write observations and questions and your own prayers and struggles.
Start here and as you dwell in God’s Word, you will find your heart necessarily is lifted as your ears perk up. As your eyes look to the hills for help, you will hear his words of approbation and love. And you will be able to leap over walls.