Faith Capsule: Pride stands out as the agent that denies or complicate hearing and receiving to heart.
Ezekiel 3
It is impossible to hear from God and doubt Him. Claiming to have heard and still occupied with doubt and fear is the evidence that you are yet to hear with ear and heart.
Ezekiel testified, “…I heard behind me a great thunderous voice: “Blessed is the glory of the LORD from His place!” I also heard the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels beside them, and a great thunderous noise. So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days” (Ezekiel 3:12-15). In this testimony of Ezekiel’s hearing, his life was transformed. The word that came to him lifted and positioned him in the center of God’s assignment which glorified God over his life. The word of God transforms and set up man His glory. God’s calling on His children often comes with painful sacrifices, but the hand of God will always be upon the life of anyone that hears with the ear and receive with heart just as Ezekiel testified, “…but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me”.
Job’s testified, “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear but now my eye sees You” (Job 42:5). Job heard so much from people during the time of his challenges, but the hearing that provoked transformation in his life came after he was able to hear God with his ear and his heart. Thereafter, he could see what and where the Lord wanted him to see.
What prevents man from hearing and receiving to heart?
Pride stands out as the agent that denies or complicate hearing and receiving to heart:
Hardness of heart is rooted in Pride. It is an agent of the evil one. It is a prime force that denies one of hearing when supposed to hear with the ear and receive with the heart. The word of God warns against hardness of heart in Psalm 95:8 – “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness.” Jeremiah 13:15 also warned, stating: “Hear and give ear: do not be proud, for the LORD has spoken.” Hearing with ear and being able to receive what is heard in the heart are all that make the difference in the life of a believer. It is important to know that whatever we hear and are able to receive into the heart through the word of God is what we see and what makes the difference in our lives.
Prayer for today: Ask God for the grace to always hear with the ear and receive into the heart.