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Verse of the Day and Devotional
March 14th, 2024
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Scripture
“Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, And let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; Therefore let your words be few.” – Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 NKJV
Devotion
The Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes is part of the Bible’s wisdom literature and offers practical insights to help us navigate our relationship with God, others, and the world.
Our verses of the day contain some very important advice on how to approach God the right way. Verse 1 instructs us to walk prudently when we go to the Lord’s house and encourages us to draw near to hear. Verse 2 continues this theme by saying that we should not be rash or utter anything hastily before God and reminds us that God is in Heaven and we are on earth.
This is a positional reality that we may tend to forget sometimes when we come hastily to God due to our pressing issues and stress. Our earthly concerns and problems need heavenly wisdom, compassion, and insight. Therefore, we need to listen when we draw near to the Lord. It honors Him when the posture of our heart is one of humility, trust, and dependence.
Many times, our human tendency is to speak without thinking to God and others, especially when things are difficult in our lives or the world. It is hard to listen and easy to speak! Thankfully, the Scriptures promise that the Lord is good, ready to forgive and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon Him (Psalm 86:5). Even when we find ourselves speaking too much in His presence, we can be assured that He hears and forgives if we come to Him through Christ Jesus. God is patient and longs to teach us how to listen and obey His voice.
So how do we start to listen more and speak less? The phrase ‘draw near to hear’ from Ecclesiastes 5:1 can become our theme when spending time in prayer with God. Reposition your heart in worship, thanking God that He is in heaven and you are on earth and then pray, “Lord I’m drawing near to hear.” Then listen for His still, quiet voice and be led by the Word of God. One practical way that I exercise my listening skill is to sit outside in nature. This eliminates distractions and increases my focus and awareness of the Lord’s presence through His creation.
This discipline of listening takes time to cultivate. We need the help of the Holy Spirit and confirmation from the Word of God to discern what we hear. One simple act of faith could be to bring a pen and paper, so you are ready to receive God’s wisdom next time you draw near to hear. Ask the Lord to lead you to a place where you can be still in His presence and receive His guidance.
Thank God that He longs to show compassion on us and lead us in the way everlasting!
Inspirational Image of the Day
