Hearing with Your Heart

In our time of instant information and 10-second sound bites, it’s challenging to slow down and apply the words of Psalm 46:10 to our lives: “Be still, and know that I am God” (NKJV). So many of us tend to run around in our self-made circles of activity instead of wisely and calmly sitting at His feet.

We need to be ready to hear what God has to say. In Matthew 13, in the parable of the sower, Jesus described four reactions to the truth of God’s Word. First there is the hard heart, which the seed on the roadside represented. The hard heart doesn’t understand and receive the Word, and therefore doesn’t produce any fruit.

Next there is the shallow heart, which parallels the seed that fell on ground filled with rocks. This describes those who are very emotional but have no depth in their lives. Thus, they bear no fruit.

Thirdly, there is the crowded heart, represented by the seed that goes into the soil imbedded with weeds. This speaks of those who receive the Word initially, but they lack repentance and permit sin to choke out the Word of God

Lastly, there is the fruitful heart that receives the Word and allows it to bring forth fruit.

You determine what kind of soil your heart will be. You determine whether you will have a hard heart, a shallow heart, a crowded heart, or a fruitful heart. You determine how the Word of God will affect your life. It’s up to you.

James tells us, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (1:21 NKJV).

The Word of God can’t work in our lives unless we receive it the right way. That’s because it’s possible to hear with our ears but not with our hearts.