Blog
Are you Listening?
Friday, August 2, 2024 by Rick Stockwell
Are You Listening?
READ Isaiah 32:1-8
“Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.”
- Isaiah 32:3 (NIV)
While walking my dog one Saturday morning, I greeted a Jewish man on his way to synagogue with his son: “Shabbat Shalom!” [Have a peaceful Sabbath!] He nodded in response. A moment later, I encountered a woman walking by and said, “Hello!” She didn’t respond. Looking more closely, I realized she had wireless earbuds in her ears. Perhaps she was listening to music or an audiobook and couldn’t hear me. That got me thinking. There may be times when God is speaking directly to us, but we’re not listening.
In a book by Mother Teresa, she argued we shouldn’t automatically recite our current list of wants and needs when we pray. Instead, we should kneel before our Heavenly Father and listen. At first, I disagreed with this approach, recalling verses like Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Then another verse came to mind: “… Be still and know that I am God …” (Psalm 46:10). Both passages of scripture are in the Bible, so both are true. Perhaps when praying, there should be times when we speak and times when we listen.
I tried listening during prayer instead of talking. A day or two later, scripture passages jumped out at me like never before (e.g., Psalm 51), soothing my soul. Perhaps God was teaching me to listen to him.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
“Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9).
Prayer: Father in heaven, please help me to listen to you.
Prayer Focus: LISTENING TO GOD
Rick Stockwell
Rick Stockwell retired from a career in information technology, teaches Sunday school for first graders, served as an elder at his church, has been married for thirty-five years, and has two children and six grandchildren.
Rick is the author of two novels in his Heavenly Realms series called The Wall and The Battle. Audio, eBook and paperback versions are accessible via this link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07HQ8G3MJ
Previous Posts
Clean
Rick Stockwell
6/19/2026
Like a Breath
Rick Stockwell
6/12/2026
Sermon on the Mount
Rick Stockwell
6/5/2026
Lies
Rick Stockwell
5/29/2026
Back in the Box
Rick Stockwell
5/22/2026
Looking Ahead
Rick Stockwell
5/15/2026
Who's Driving?
Rick Stockwell
5/8/2026
Interruptions
Rick Stockwell
5/1/2026
What's the Most Important Question in Life?
Rick Stockwell
4/24/2026
Feathers
Rick Stockwell
4/17/2026
Checkers or Chess?
Rick Stockwell
4/10/2026
Victory
Rick Stockwell
4/3/2026
Restless
Rick Stockwell
3/27/2026
Assurance of Salvation
Rick Stockwell
3/20/2026
Anniversaries and Holidays
Rick Stockwell
3/13/2026
Knowing
Rick Stockwell
3/6/2026
Hate at Hebron
Rick Stockwell
2/27/2026
Naos
Rick Stockwell
2/20/2026
Why Believe in God?
Rick Stockwell
2/13/2026
The Last Starfighter
Rick Stockwell
2/6/2026
Be Alert
Rick Stockwell
1/30/2026
Time's Up
Rick Stockwell
1/23/2026
Can't Take It With You
Rick Stockwell
1/16/2026
Safe with God
Rick Stockwell
1/9/2026
Happy New Year
Rick Stockwell
1/2/2026
Choose Wisely
Rick Stockwell
12/26/2025
Merry Christmas
Rick Stockwell
12/19/2025
Two by Two
Rick Stockwell
12/12/2025
No Root
Rick Stockwell
12/5/2025
I Did It My Way
Rick Stockwell
11/28/2025
Sandals
Rick Stockwell
11/21/2025
Amazing Forgiveness
Rick Stockwell
11/14/2025
Temptation
Rick Stockwell
11/7/2025
Cards You're Dealt
Rick Stockwell
10/31/2025
Shelf Life
Rick Stockwell
10/24/2025
Watchman
Rick Stockwell
10/17/2025
Seeds
Rick Stockwell
10/10/2025
Allegiance
Rick Stockwell
10/3/2025
Water Bottle
Rick Stockwell
9/26/2025
Charlie Kirk
Rick Stockwell
9/19/2025
Book Binding
Rick Stockwell
9/12/2025
Meeting Together
Rick Stockwell
9/5/2025
Weak and Strong
Rick Stockwell
8/29/2025
Repentance
Rick Stockwell
8/22/2025
Why Didn't You Tell Me?
Rick Stockwell
8/15/2025
Nose to Nose
Rick Stockwell
8/8/2025
Discipleship
Rick Stockwell
8/1/2025
Already Chosen
Rick Stockwell
7/25/2025
Drainage Tunnel
Rick Stockwell
7/18/2025
Withered Hand
Rick Stockwell
7/11/2025
Traveling Mercies
Rick Stockwell
7/4/2025
Doomscrolling
Rick Stockwell
6/27/2025
Working Toward Heaven
Rick Stockwell
6/20/2025
Foxes
Rick Stockwell
6/13/2025
Self-Reliance
Rick Stockwell
6/6/2025
Flawless
Rick Stockwell
5/30/2025
The Scripture Cannot Be Broken
Rick Stockwell
5/23/2025
Friends
Rick Stockwell
5/16/2025
Steal No Longer
Rick Stockwell
5/9/2025
Why is the World So Messed Up?
Rick Stockwell
5/2/2025
Judging Others
Rick Stockwell
4/25/2025
Stay off the Grass
Rick Stockwell
4/18/2025
Who is my Neighbor?
Rick Stockwell
4/11/2025
Same Reward
Rick Stockwell
4/4/2025
Love and Respect
Rick Stockwell
3/28/2025
Can God Use You?
Rick Stockwell
3/21/2025
Do All Paths Lead to God?
Rick Stockwell
3/14/2025
Final Exam
Rick Stockwell
3/7/2025
Clear Conscience
Rick Stockwell
2/28/2025
Guardian Angels
Rick Stockwell
2/21/2025
Invictus
Rick Stockwell
2/14/2025
Faith
Rick Stockwell
2/7/2025
Post-Retirement Planning
Rick Stockwell
1/31/2025
Twin Parallel Truths
Rick Stockwell
1/24/2025
I Will Be With You
Rick Stockwell
1/17/2025
Deny by Default
Rick Stockwell
1/10/2025
Living Water
Rick Stockwell
1/3/2025
Marriage Proposal
Rick Stockwell
12/27/2024
What is Truth?
Rick Stockwell
12/20/2024
Success
Rick Stockwell
12/13/2024
Crumbs
Rick Stockwell
12/6/2024
TV Turnoff
Rick Stockwell
11/29/2024
Thanksgiving
Rick Stockwell
11/22/2024
Burning Brightly
Rick Stockwell
11/15/2024
One-Way Mirror
Rick Stockwell
11/8/2024
Time
Rick Stockwell
11/1/2024
My List
Rick Stockwell
10/25/2024
Bronzed
Rick Stockwell
10/18/2024
Anti-malware Software Needed
Rick Stockwell
10/11/2024
A Real Miracle
Rick Stockwell
10/4/2024
Forgotten God
Rick Stockwell
9/27/2024
Version 2.0
Rick Stockwell
9/20/2024
Chasing Shadows
Rick Stockwell
9/13/2024
Red Scribbles
Rick Stockwell
9/6/2024
The One I Esteem
Rick Stockwell
8/30/2024
Swimming Lessons
Rick Stockwell
8/23/2024
Hard Heart
Rick Stockwell
8/16/2024
Racial Healing
Rick Stockwell
8/9/2024
Are you Listening?
Rick Stockwell
8/2/2024
The Narrow Path
Rick Stockwell
7/26/2024
Go Save Someone
Rick Stockwell
7/19/2024
He Knows What You Need
Rick Stockwell
7/12/2024
Bleach
Rick Stockwell
7/5/2024
Firm Foundation
Rick Stockwell
6/30/2024
Impressions
Rick Stockwell
6/21/2024
Running Uphill
Rick Stockwell
6/14/2024
Are We Listening?
Rick Stockwell
3/31/2021
Go Save Someone
Rick Stockwell
3/31/2021
He Knows What You Need
Rick Stockwell
3/31/2021
Firm Foundation
Rick Stockwell
3/31/2021
Bleach
Rick Stockwell
3/31/2021
Impressions
Rick Stockwell
2/15/2018
Running Uphill
Rick Stockwell
11/29/2017
Racial Healing
Rick Stockwell
2/9/2017
Start Each Day With Prayer
Rick Stockwell
5/10/2016