Yes Lord

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
YES LORD
Prov 4:20-23
20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. 21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
NIV
Is there a way to listen not closely? I think so. How often have I been guilty of listening to someone ramble on, only to find a moment of pause, so I could interject what I wanted to say? I think all too often. Or how many times have I just hear their words but was thinking about something else, which I wanted to discuss instead. So I suppose it is well within my ability to listen to the voice of God and not pay one hundred percent attention to him, but be wondering about something I wanted to be doing. But that is not the way it should be, no I must pay close attention to the words of God. I must harken his words, inclining my ear to what he has to say to me, which is not thinking about what I want to say before he is finished talking. I know I have taught, preached and written that I believe God has given us two ears and one mouth because I believe we should listen twice as much as we talk in our time with God. But here I also see that out time with God is always, not just a few minutes of prayer time a day. This never let them out of my sight, means just that. I should never ever let his words out of my sight, keeping them always before me, using my ears all the time to hear his words. Sure maybe not a voice, although I have heard his voice a few times, but the words he has already spoken and saw to it they were recorded for me to read, with my eyes and hear with my ears, and guard them with my heart. His words must be within me at all times, never forsaking them for those times when my flesh cries out for its own way. I do not question the fact his words at life itself to me as well as health to my body. There is no doubt that a life of sin, a life living outside the word of God can have a devastating effect on the body. But a life within the word of God can have a wonderful effect on the body. God heals those who love him and are dedicated to staying in his word. He heals those who are in Christ, this I believe with all my heart. His word is life, it is health, it is the very source of life eternal, it is the wellspring of life, and I will guard my heart against anything which would distract me from his word.