Slow things down! It’s all training: what to do, what not to do and be careful how and what you conclude. The false self is often quick and first to run some commentary of how you should act, react, judge or accuse. Every moment has a multitude of concluding variables, never just “one thing”. Much is going on in every scene of our lives. There is always more going on! Abraham Lincoln once said,
Better to be silent and thought a fool than to speak up and remove all doubt.
The Apostle James, wrote,
Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry. James 1:19 (AMP)
The Warrior’s Heart must learn that God is good and up to good in his life. Training is the Father’s aim so He can entrust and deploy His Beloved Sons into many different situations where the Father wants a Kingdom presence. Learning how to be and bring that presence takes time. Look at the letters the apostles wrote to the churches. Not the same men who walked the Roman roads of 1st Century Palestine and yet they were the same men. Learning how to live freely takes time and many redeeming moments. The Father is patient and is training us to be also.
Shhhh. Listen…what do you hear? This may be one of the most crucial skills a Warrior must cultivate and practice. Seeing is truly important, but hearing is imperative! If the Holy Spirit is to counsel, teach, guide and comfort us, then we are going to have to learn how to listen. If we are to become a Beloved Son and enter into the battle as warriors…hearing the still small voice of God in our hearts is essential. There is no Life without listening, receiving from our God. Jeffery Satinover, an Orthodox Jew, psychiatrist and author wrote,
I have often wondered why the voice of God is so quiet and so still. Perhaps He is trying to train us to listen. Just as by his very quiet the gentleman in a room of shouting oafs eventually compels attention, perhaps God draws us to His voice not by out-shouting our inner babble, but by the whispered truths that reveal His character.
It is a crowded place, a man’s inner world. It’s downright rowdy at times. Seldom do we check the voices as to their source. Let’s add them up…you have a true self and a false self living in you. Christ lives in you in the form of the Holy Spirit laying out the truth, and the enemy of your heart is looking for opportune times to drop lies. It’s pretty easy to see: we are never alone! But then the question is, can you discern? Do you pay attention to your thoughts and what voice has the microphone? Do you know the voice of God? We should!
Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: "This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!" Mark 9:7 (NIV)
Is this for just the three on the mount of transfiguration or for twelve or for the many Beloved Sons to come? Until we are trained, most of the time it is the false self speaking about most things. Complaining, accusing, annoyed, labeling, judging, inconvenienced, impatient, name calling, dramatic, frustrated, anger, vengeful and all the language that comes along with such false self commentary.
Listening is one of the most loving and kind things we can do…for the hearts of others and for our own. What’s great is that you get a lot of time and opportunity to practice. How do you listen to your wife and your kids? Try and observe your skills for a day, give your kids your eyes… look at your wife when she is talking,. your ears…hone in on their words shutting out all other noise and distraction. If you make it to eight seconds, same amount of time they call it “a ride” on the back of a bull, you’re well on your way.
The practice of listening is crucial to posturing a man for everything his heart will need to receive. Asking and inviting God to speak, then listening… this is the practice of an oriented man, the practice of a Warrior Heart. It will save you a lot of trouble, disarm the enemy’s attempts to lure you into judgment and allow for wisdom and understanding, qualities Christ wants to impart to the men of His Kingdom.
He who answers a matter before he hears the facts—it is folly and shame to him. Proverbs 18:13 (AMP)
One of the things Jesus was known for was asking questions. Look through the gospels, one of the old NIV versions with red print for when Jesus is speaking and circle all the places you see a question mark. Jesus is so loving, and one of the ways He loved was asking questions, then giving folks His attention… listening. He asks we do the same.
