The last two weeks overflowed with sweet fellowship, delicious coffee, homemade cuisine, peaceful walks, entertaining car rides, bumpy flights, sandy toes, and a variety of unfamiliar vocabulary and conversational phrases.
Here are a few new words I encountered while traveling in Australia:
The car got “bogged” – stuck in the sand on the beach
You might need to take off your “bangles” – bracelets
We’ll meet after “brekky” – breakfast
Let’s have “morning tea” – coffee and a snack
Watch for the “ute” – truck
We met in “uni” – university
Do you want the “air con” turned on? – air conditioning
Take your “bathers” to the beach – swim suit
I need my “jumper” – sweater
“Pram” parking – stroller parking
“Rubbish” – garbage
“Tap” – spigot
I needed to learn new words and ways of communication in order to enter into conversations. For a fun video about Aussie language, watch here.
I noticed that while, for the most part, Australians and Americans speak with similar words, the rhythm, speed, and inflections of speech varied greatly between the two countries. At times I found myself asking Aussies to slow down or repeat themselves for me to take in the content from their words. I did not want to miss out on the conversation. I desired to understand and engage but needed to intentionally incline my ear to grasp what was said. Different from climbing a steep path (an incline), I needed to hear and pay attention (incline).
In what ways do you incline your ear while in conversation with others?
Incline – Favorably disposed toward. To pay attention. To listen attentively. To move toward.
I wonder about inclining my ear to God. I reflect and notice times when I did not understand God’s whispers, yet failed to stop and ask Him to slow down, repeat Himself, or offer further clarity for me to engage with and take in His communication. I want to hear from the Lord. I want to “incline” my ear to His voice and movements.
Have you ever considered inclining your ear to hear God’s voice?
“Incline your ear” appears over sixty times in the Bible. In the book of Psalms, we read that the Psalmist asked God to incline His ear to heavy concerns (Psalm 102:1-2). The Psalmist also noticed the ways God inclined His ear to the requests of humankind (Psalm 116:1-2). In Isaiah 35:17, Isaiah beseeches God to incline His ear to the needs of man while in Isaiah 55:3 God invites humankind to incline their ear to His ways. At the same time, God inclines His ear toward creation (Exodus 2:23-25) and He invites us to incline our ear towards Him (John 10).
God delights when we speak our voice to Him; do we delight in His voice to us?
Perhaps hearing God seems difficult or even impossible to grasp, but as I read the Bible, I become keenly aware that God speaks a lot and inclining my ear to His voice is imperative.
How important is hearing God to you?
As I read through the Bible this year, I have been underlining the occurrences when “God spoke” or “God said” something. It amazes me how vocal God is. He speaks often. He spoke to Adam, Eve, Cain, Noah, Abraham, Hagar, Abimelek, Isaac, Jacob, and Laban – and that is only in the book of Genesis. Others in Genesis, like Leah, Rachel, and Joseph knew and sense God’s voice and presence through blessing, dreams, and an inner awareness. Throughout the Scriptures our Triune God communicated, drawing people towards Himself, and many paid attention to His movement.
God speaks, Jesus declares, and the Holy Spirit moves through countless recordings found in the Bible. Nevertheless, I wonder about ways we “miss” hearing God’s voice? How do I neglect inclining my ear to the Lord?
As I reflect on my own life and some cultural influences today, hinderances to inclining our ear to the voice of God might include exhaustion, busyness, apathy, restlessness, pride, addiction, and fear.
Reflect for a moment about possible distractions that prevent you from inclining your ear to the voice of God in your life.
God always speaks in ways consistent with His character as delineated in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and James 3:17. At times the Lord speaks loudly, but often He seems to address His creation softly and tenderly (Zechariah 1:13). Although His ways may seem confusing and unclear to us, Scripture details God’s clear, purposeful, and holy ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Today, God’s “speaking” voice often comes to us through Scripture, an internal voice, dreams, visions, through our cleansed imaginations, by nudges and impressions, through people, unexpected moments, miraculous wonders, and even bodily sensations. Yet, I wonder, am I paying attention? Are you?
When I feel uncertain about hearing God’s voice, perhaps I need to “incline” my ear by asking God to speak slower, with repetition, and through a variety of “words.” Sometimes, like Samuel in 1 Samuel 3, I miss God’s initial invitations to my soul. Yet, I desire to hear God’s voice and follow His ways. What are ways I can live inclining my ear to the quiet nudges of God? How can I move toward God, paying attention to His voice?
What about you? How can you move toward God, paying attention for His voice?
Listen for God’s voice in your life. If the Lord feels quiet, ask a friend to listen with you. If His words seem unclear, ask God to repeat Himself. If you notice confusion, reflect on God’s character.
Don’t miss out on conversation with God. Address possible hinderances in your life to paying attention to His voice. Consider new ways God might invite you to notice His voice. Lean in and pay attention. Incline your ear to the ever-speaking voice of God and hear Him drawing you toward Himself.
Delight to hear God’s voice in your life.
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Drips from the Word: Muse about these Bible verses. Let these truths impact your living.
Psalm 116:2 – Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
Isaiah 55:3 – Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
Splashes from the Spigot: Drink from deep wells. Read these recommended books to fill your soul.
Dallas Willard. Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God (The IVP Signature Collection) Westmont, IL. 2021.
Patrick Meyers. How to Hear God’s Voice: The Keys to a Conversational Relationship with the Lord. Littleton, CO. 2021.
Sprinklings of Truth: Soak in meaningful songs. Check out these music videos to lift up your spirit.
Mercy Me. Word of God Speak. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8cJQMU9Q-U
Lauren Daigle. You Say. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI
Puddles for Prayer: Thank you for praying for upcoming travel and speaking engagements.
February 21-March 5 – Flying to Denver from Sydney, Australia on March 5.
March 8 – Breathe Retreat – Littleton, CO
March 18-April 5 Lviv, Ukraine – Teaching course, The Care of Souls, at Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary. I would be grateful if you would like to give to help cover my expenses for travel and delivery of this course, please give here: www.gtp.org/give