The Posture of Listening

On By Beth AlisanIn Lessons

Blessed is the man who listens to Me,

Watching daily at My doors,

Waiting at My doorway.

Proverbs 8:34

Nothing exemplifies the posture of listening better than my Labrador Retriever during that early morning hour when she and I are the only ones awake.  She is still, quiet, and alert as she lies on her dog bed situated next to my reading chair.  Adi knows exactly what she is listening for. The remainder of the house to awaken.  She always positions her head to be pointing toward the stairs so she can better hear the first sounds of movement.

One morning a glance at Adi got me wondering how well I listen during my early morning quiet time with the Lord.

Like my Lab, do I listen with a confident expectation of hearing?

Do I quiet my soul so I can hear clearly?

Do I wait patiently until I hear Him?

The prophet Isaiah writes, “Morning after morning He will wake me to listen like a student. Lord God, open my ears. I will not rebel, nor will I turn away” (Isaiah 50:4). I can have a posture of listening if I turn my face toward to the Word of God with a desire to hear.

[God] is always whispering to us, but we do not always hear, because of the noise, hurry, distraction which life causes as it rushes on.

FW Faber*

© 2019-2023, Lessons from a Lab, Beth Alisan.  All Rights Reserved.

*Tileston, Mary W.  Daily Strength for Daily Needs.  Originally published 1884.  Public Domain. Released July 1, 2005 by theGuteberg Project https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/8534/pg8534.html

39 thoughts on “The Posture of Listening”

  1. Thanks for leaving a like in “blue chair” It is amazing how God waits for us to tune in to his channel. He graciously receives us. Wonderful. Nice theme you have with your Lessons from the Lab. Be blessed.

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    1. Thank you Oneta for your lovely comment! You left a comment on Devotional Treasure that caught my attention and I’m so glad that I took the time in that moment to visit your website. I thoroughly enjoyed your story of Buttons and his rocker.

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  2. That look on Adi’s face touched my heart so much. What a great visual for me to use when thinking about my time with the Lord. Do I eagerly await His voice like Adi awaits her people? Honestly, not always. I let too many side thoughts and concerns muddle my brain and my heart. You have given me a renewed desire to listen as I read God’s Word…to hear Him and not always think I need to be the one speaking. Bless you, Beth, for this timely lesson that I’m so thankful I read today!

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    1. Patty, I’m so glad Adi picture and this lesson have given you such wonderful inspiration. There’s a pureness to Adi’s listening that I find inspiring. She knows the first message she’ll get from each of the humans that descend the stairs is one of love. The same is true in that early morning hour when I’m first connecting with the Lord. Adi reminds me that the Lord’s first message will always be one of love.

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  3. Just this morning the thought occurred to me that, as I journaled through the scriptural basis of a hymn, my thoughts were addressed TO God in praise. And then I proceeded to intercede for various people and ministries. Where was the listening?! My next thought was: God WAS speaking to me what he wanted me to know and remember, even as I was writing my praise to him. I DO want to be expectant, attentive, and patient to hear his voice in my spirit. It is too precious a gift he gives us to be ignored.

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    1. Thank you Nancy for sharing this beautiful reflection! Yes, His voice is too precious of a gift to be ignored. How appropriate that the hymn you were studying was the fruit of the writer’s listening which prompted you to listen and praise Him.

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      1. Oh, I love your insight, Beth, that the hymnwriter was also listening to God and praising Him. We’re carrying on a conversation across the centuries! (The hymn I’m working through, Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above, was written by Johann J. Schutz, who lived in the 1600s.)

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      2. Wow Nancy! I never thought about it that way but you are absolutely correct. Makes me cherish these old timeless hymns even more! I’m not familiar with “Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above.” I just looked up the lyrics. Beautiful!! I found a simple yet well done performance on youtube that I’m adding to my morning worship playlist. Thank you for such a blessing.

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    1. Heather, I’m so glad the Lord was able to use this as an encouragement for you. Sounds like a wonderful speaking opportunity. May the Lord bless your words as you touch the lives of the women in attendance.

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  10. Wonderful post! The world is an endlessly busy place. It is when we are still, waiting, that we can really ‘listen’. Early morning is often a very quiet time before the busyness of the day begins. It is a good thing in that hour to pray and ‘listen’.

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    1. Thank you Linda! By nature, I’m a night owl. That said once the kids came along I found the only quiet hour of the day (in which I wasn’t utterly exhausted) could be found only by waking up before the household. My kids are now teenage night owls and I relish the extra hour or two they willingly give me in the mornings.

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  11. Patricia A Burkhart

    Wow! This really hit home, for sure. How often do we just “read the Word” to get through our daily reading and not really listen to what the Lord is saying to us? This gives me a lot to think about and to try to do better! Thanks, Adi!!

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    1. Pat, it is so good to hear from you! I have to regularly check myself in the mornings to make sure that I’m absorbing what I’m reading and not just checking the box. It is so easy to turn one’s ears off.

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  12. Katherine Pasour

    Your message touched a tender spot. I have a struggle with maintaining my attention during my quiet time with God. Tasks needing to be done distract me. But what could be more important than my time with our Father? Thank you, Beth.

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    1. Katherine, I’m so glad this lesson resonated with you. As you said, nothing can be more important than time with the Father. I too struggle with making that top priority over all things clamoring to be done in a day. Several years ago, we had a missionary speak at our church. He told how he grew up watching his missionary parents giving the Lord the first two hours of their day everyday. He called it time tithing.

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  14. Oh, love this. Finn listens for everyone to come home at the end of the work and school day. He knows the difference between individuals’ footsteps. His whole body wags when a family member steps onto the porch. You’re right — what a joy it is to God when we are that excited about Him!

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  15. What a timely devotion today Beth, thank you so much! I particularly love that line of positive affirmation: “I can have a posture of listening if I turn my face toward to the Word of God with a desire to hear.”
    May I always turn towards Him in His Word each day.
    God bless you and your family dear sister 🙏

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