Proverbs Chapter 28 verse 9
If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
even their prayers are detestable.
Psalm 147 verse 11 (NIV)
the Lord delights in those who fear him,
who put their hope in his unfailing love.
Our relationship with God is a two-way one, or at least it should be. For many people who don’t know what it’s like to have that relationship, there is a danger that they see God in the same way that they would regard a genie in a bottle. They only come to Him when they want something, and even then, it might be for something that is not in God’s plan for them. But those of us who do have that relationship with God as our Father can also be guilty of being selectively deaf to His instruction. That got me thinking. Sometimes we forget that we are made in the image of God, therefore that means we have emotions that He has too. We can hurt God’s feelings by the way that we behave, just the same way as we would with behaviour towards anyone else.
The opposite side of the coin is also true. We can bring God pleasure and joy. Imagine that. The Creator of the world who has all things in His control can be impacted by how we behave, good or bad. When we count our blessings, we realise all that God has done for us, then it is sad to think that we so easily hurt Him by choosing whether or not to do what He asks us to. Imagine what we would feel like if someone we love and had gone out of our way to provide for, turned their back on us. That puts things into perspective. Let’s remember who God is and all that He has done for us. That will hopefully cure any selective deafness that we have.
Dear Lord,
May I always have a grateful heart that instils in me a willingness to obedient to Your good and perfect will for my life. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.