Before Asher's arrival, I prayed every day about the things I was thankful for, for the things I thought I needed and wanted. I read Scriptures and I'm embarrassed to admit, some of it is just hard to understand. Nonetheless, this is what I referred to as my quiet time. I thought I was doing what He wanted me to. But, I didn't realize until now, that something was missing. I wasn't listening aggressively. Quiet time in the past consisted of reading Scriptures and then I would pray; nothing more, nothing less. I was only skimming the surface and I didn't realize this until recently when God spoke to me through the book "How to Listen to God" by Charles Stanley. The author states there are two kinds of listening: Passive Listening & Aggressive Listening. "A passive listener does not come to God to hear a decision from Him. The aggressive listener comes knowing and seeking to hear diligently what God has to say(Stanley 16).
I yearn to be an aggressive listener. I want to listen, understand and then ask myself, "How can I take this Scripture and apply it to my life? How can I listen more intensely? How can I be more like God?" So, instead of just skimming the surface, my pen is out and I'm ready to take notes all over God's Letter to us. Will you join me in slowing life down to listen aggressively to His word and apply it in your everyday life? I am learning slowly, but surely, and because of this, I am able to savor life's moments even in the midst of all the chaos. Thank you Jesus.
Matthew 7:24: "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock."
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