Submissive Listening

Anita Delene Manthe
Jul 15, 2017
3 min read

Who do you listen to when you are in a difficult position? Whose counsel is important to you? Where do you turn in those moments when you are challenged to make a decision? Do you only seek the Lord when confronted with life altering decisions or is your mind cultivated and set that you seek Him daily? Do you seek Him when you’re tired and distracted and not able to do one more thing in your day? Do you seek Him in those moments for strength and endurance to glorify Him with a sweet and congenial disposition?

Or, are you short of temper when day after day the trivialities of life overwhelm you and your heart is heavy with the cares and concerns of the world? Do you then speak from your heart showing your impatience with your circumstances and those who add to the confusion of your disquieted heart?

Have you ever considered your thoughts, actions and words about those in your life, those whom the Lord sovereignly placed there, in the very confusion of your day to day existence reveal your heart attitude towards the Lord. Your responses to those very situations reveal the reality of your relationship with Him? Who and what is more important – His agenda, or yours?

What do the murmurings and grumblings of your heart say about who you are? Are you thankful for where He has placed you for His glory, even if you want more than anything to escape your current situation?

How does He want you to respond in difficult situations with difficult people for His glory? How will you respond to what He is teaching you? Will you find comfort in His being sufficient for life and godliness? Isn’t that what we are truly called to exemplify – the Lord as our all and everything? Or is your heart so discontent that your very thoughts and actions reveal a deep and burning anger with His providences?

As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number (Job 5:8-9).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
Are the comforts of God too small for you, or the word that deals gently with you? Why does your heart carry you away, and why do your eyes flash, that you turn your spirit against God and bring such words out of your mouth (Job 15:11-13).
If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him. If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents. Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear. You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away. And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning. And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security. You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favor (Job 11:13-19).