"Stop. Empty your hands. Look. Listen."
I found these steps in one of the kid's Listening Skills book. The book tries to teach students to not only hear someone (their teacher) talking but to actually listen to their teacher. I try frequently to get my children to follow these 4 simple steps. It can be frustrating at times but when they follow them, we are both rewarded. I receive obedience and they don't receive a consequence.
This week I was reading through Psalm 27. Verse 14 says,
Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.
It was as if the Lord said to me, "S.E.L.L., Debby. Stop. Empty your hands. Look. Listen." I think the waiting that David is talking about in this verse means more than God's timing not being our own. I think God wants us to stop what we are doing. Empty our hands of whatever is distracting us. Look, actually put our eyes on God. And listen for HIS voice, HIS leading in our lives.
May we receive the blessing that comes from waiting for the Lord.
