Are You Listening?

 "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

 

    I decided to take up walking to get in shape. One television program after another  touted how beneficial it was to the entire body: inches would miraculously disappear, muscles tighten up and, better yet, body parts return to their pre-baby positions. Not only that, but this would all happen in a matter of days. 

    And (this part really appealed to me), it was free! No joining a gym or buying fancy workout clothes . . . just a good pair of tennis shoes and a place to walk and I had both of those. So for two weeks I crawled (and I do mean crawled) out of bed at 6 a.m. and drove the short distance to the high school track to work on disappearing inches and tightening muscles.

   I did not have a plan of action as to how I should pace myself to get the maximum benefit from walking; instead, I complained mentally each and every day that I did not see immediate results. After all, isn’t that what those get-fit-quick programs had promised?

    One morning, after only 8 days, I allowed myself to become frustrated because I had yet to see anything disappear except my enthusiasm. I was mentally trying to get my mind to tell my body to get with it when I glanced to my left and saw an elderly gentleman with a cane struggling to get up a slight incline to the track.

    I was trying to decide if I should run across the field to help him when I saw an unbelievable sight! He not only reached the track but immediately tucked his cane under his right arm and began walking with the stride of a man half his age. I nearly stopped in my amazement until I realized that if I didn’t get moving, this gentleman of at least 80+ years would pass me!

   No matter how hard I tried, I could not help but stare. The elderly man kept his near-perfect gait, step after step. I found myself very curious as to how he was able to move with such ease and increased my pace to try to catch up with him.

   As I came up on his right, the gentleman smiled at me but never missed his stride and I immediately realized why. He was evidently hard of hearing;  he had on earphones and an  Ipod turned up so loudly that I could hear what he was listening to: a loud, drill-sergeant type voice repeating in perfect cadence “Come-on-now-you-can-do-it. You-can-do-it. You-can-do-it. Step. Step. Step. Step.” 

    He was not only listening to that voice of encouragement, but he was obeying. It became obvious that he had a definite goal – walking to get in shape – and he was focused on the encouragement that he received from the voice on his I pod to reach that goal.

    Four days later, I again found myself on the track as the gentleman struggled up the incline and began to walk but this time, the result was completely different. After only a few feet, the man stopped suddenly and turned around. I slowed up to see what was wrong, when he smiled and said “I’ve got to go back to my car. I forgot my Ipod. I need that voice to keep me going!” 

   Is that not the truth with all of us in our walk with the Lord? In today’s society we hear so many voices with so many commands to go in so many directions. God has given us freedom to choose the direction we would like to walk. 

     But when we decide to listen to encouragement from the world and not the One, we can easily stumble and fall. Listen for His voice today. Choose Him. Look in His Word of encouragement to you. Come-on-now-you-can-do-it!

    Father, help me to focus on you in this world with so many trying to pull me away. Your voice is the only one I need. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

R.A.P. it up . . . 

Reflect

• When the journey you are on gets discouraging, who do you go to for encouragement and advice? A close friend? The Lord?

• Why do you feel you get pulled away from the Lord during tough times?

Apply

• Write down encouragement Scripture passages on note cards and tape them inside your kitchen cabinets and on your mirror.

•  Memorize those passages to remind you that, when the journey makes you weary or discouraged, you have a Father who understands how rough the road can be.

Power 

• Isaiah 30:21 (NIV) “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”

• Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

• Proverbs 4:11-13 (NIV) “I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.”