7 words till Christmas... journey...

Another day closer to Christmas...
another word...
journey...

I happened to finish a journey today...
a journey through the Bible in three years...
a Sunday school class...
one I started by faith... well... three years ago...

A journey started with five...
we lost a couple along the way...
so three of us finished together...

At the end of a journey there is joy...
a sense of accomplishment...
(two on The Journey had never read the whole Bible before...)
and of course a sense of sadness...
we often part with fellow travelers at the end of a journey...

And... Yes... there is a journey or two in the Christmas story...

After the visit from Gabriel... Mary journeyed to see her cousin...
whom the angel told her was expecting too...

"... And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has conceived a son,

and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing

will be impossible with God." And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant

of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country,

to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit...

Luke 1:36-41 ESV

Mary hurried to her relative... cousin... Elizabeth...

who would understand the miracle within...

a barren womb now swollen with six months of life...

would believe... embrace... a virgin womb... blessed with Life...

Mary longed to see her cousin...

seek understanding... and confirmation of what had happened to her...

someone on a similar path...

Journey...

Joseph and Mary... were required to journey to Bethlehem...

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world

should be registered. ... And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea,

to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house

and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth

to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him

in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 2:1, 3-7 ESV

Joseph and Mary had no choice about the timing of their journey...

Caesar didn't concern himself with due dates...

or crowded cities... with no place for a laboring mom...

But even this journey...

part of God's plan...

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth from me one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Micah 5:2 ESV

Journey...

The shepherds took a short journey...

from the field to the manger...

The wise men... a long journey...
following a star... from east to west...

But the One who took the greatest journey of all...
was the One who came from heaven's throne room... to a virgin womb...
from a virgin womb... to a manger...
from a manger... to a cross...
from the cross... to a virgin tomb...
from the virgin tomb... back to the throne room of heaven...

Jesus... King of kings...
Lord of lords...
Creator of the universe...
humbled Himself...
and chose a journey of love...

Because He journeyed...
we can too...

By faith we journey to the cross...
spiritually dead...
to be born again...
to eternal life...

By faith we journey through this world...
a spiritual wilderness... not our home...
to make our way... to Him...

At the end of the journey... will be JOY...
and sadly... we may lose some along the way...
but once we arrive... once the journey is complete...
there will be no more sadness...
no more separation... from Him...
or those who love Him...

Journey... a word of Advent...
one well worth taking...

rest in Him... Exodus 13:21-22...

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way,

and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day

and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night

did not depart from before the people.

Exodus 13:21-22 ESV

I've been feeling stress-full of late...

all He's calling me to do...

with deadlines looming... seems impossible...

makes me feel I might fail...

which in turn makes me whiny...

(according to my husband...)

So today... I find myself... far from rest-full...

and needing to take a look at... Why...?

He reveals I've been focusing on the end...

believing rest... satisfaction... fulfillment...

will be found when it's all done...

But I know full well...

there will always be more...

And I think about Moses... finding rest in God's presence...

God's presence visible to Moses and the people he leads...

resting in God's continual guidance...

the pillar of cloud by day...

the pillar of fire by night...

They followed... forty years in the wilderness...

(at my age... I doubt I still have forty to go...)

and for many in the Exodus... a whole generation... including Moses...

the journey was all they had...

they didn't finish...

they didn't enter... the promised land...

I see rest is not found at the completion of the current call...

because the true end does not come till He returns...

rest is to be found in the journey...

Following His lead...

from one thing to the next...

being blessed now...

finding joy... peace... rest... now...

in the journey with Him...

Because really...

the journey is where transformation happens...

the journey is where sanctification does its work...

the day to day journey... of following Him...

resting in His faith-full presence...

Amen...

journeying... into new...

This morning... a reminder regarding this year's word... journey...

"Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." ---1 Samuel 7:12

The word "hitherto" seems like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. ...

But the word also points forward. For when a man gets up to a certain mark and writes "hitherto," he is not yet at the end, there is still a distance to be traversed. More trials, more joys; more temptations, more triumphs; more prayers, more answers; more toils, more strength; more fights, more victories...

"He who hath helped thee hitherto, Will help thee all thy journey through."

---Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

 Even though this word for the year is replaced... the journey continues...

And I see the string of each word-for-a-year... 
2013... obedience... 

And this is love:

that we walk in obedience to his commands.

2 John 6

2014... journey... 

And a highway will be there;

it will be called the Way of Holiness.

The unclean will not journey on it;

it will be for those who walk in that Way;

wicked fools will not go about on it.

Isaiah 35:8

2015... new... 

And he who was seated on the throne said,

"Behold, I am making all things new."

Also he said, "Write this down,

for these words are trustworthy and true."

Revelation 21:5 ESV

They connect... speak a single message...

Obedience to Him

is a journey with Him

in which He makes all things new. 

Hitherto... and beyond... He is with us...

calling us to His will...

traveling with us along the way...

transforming us into His image...

"...Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.

Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,

for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9 ESV

Looking forward... to journeying... into new...

a new journey...

Waking before the alarm...

the anticipation of a new journey...

Not one of distance...

but one of the heart and soul...

A discipleship journey...

someone new joining me on the path...

While they were talking and discussing together,

Jesus himself drew near and went with them.

Matthew 24:15 ESV

Looking forward to the weeks ahead...

with anticipation... and joy...!

the path...

The path...
the narrow path... leading to life...
Are you on it...?

How would you know if you were...?

I believe we step onto the path...
by choosing Him as Lord...
dying to self... and our own desires...
and living for Him... alone...

The narrow path...
it's a path of worship... devotion... obedience...

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God,

present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and 

acceptable to God, which is your spiritual act of worship.

Romans 12:1 ESV

It's life in the Word...
eating it...
living it...
making it flesh...

Do not be conformed to this world,

but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

that by testing you may discern what is the will of God,

what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 12:2 ESV

What path are you on...?

There is another...
a broad one... leading to death... destruction...

At first it seems like the easy way... but in the end...

"The wrong paths seem to always look easier, and will tempt us to try to escape our difficulties and trials. They may, in fact, be easier for a time, but then they will get much harder than the true path. They ultimately lead to traps and entanglements that few ever get free of, if they do not turn back quickly and get back on the right path. ...

"If you get on a wrong path, it will lead you away from Him. The joy and peace of the Lord will be replaced by confusion and darkness ... The wrong path gets darker and leads to increasing confusion. Confusion leads to depression and ultimately despair and death. ..."

---Rick Joyner, The Path  

Don't be deceived...

His Word is life...

His Way is life...

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate

and broad is the road that leads to destruction, 

and many enter through it. 

But small is the gate and narrow the road

that leads to life, and only a few find it. ..."

---Jesus

Matthew 7:13-14

Make sure you're on... the path...

beware settling... for where you are...

Israel settled down and remained...

Numbers 25:1 Amp

Settling down... sounds good to most of us...

We long for routine...

Knowing what's next... brings a sense of security...

Change can be exhausting...

The problem with Israel's choice to settle... was that they were on a journey... and not yet to the end...

They had not reached the Promised Land... the place where God was leading them...

This settling down happened in the fortieth year of their wanderings... so close to the end... they settled for where they were...

Israel settled down and remained in Shittim,

and the people began to play the harlot

with the daughters of Moab...

Numbers 25:1 Amp

Israel settled... and in the settling came temptation...

The same is true for us...

When we stop moving forward with God... when we settle for where we are... and fail to pursue all He has promised... we set ourselves up to be led astray...

Beware settling for where you are... in your faith... in your relationship with Him... in your life...

Settling leads to distraction... unbelief... and doubt...

He is true to His Word... continue to seek... remember you are on a journey......

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

Psalm 84:5

preparing...

Preparing... whether it is the process of prudently preparing for bad news... or for a couple of days away... takes time... and intention...

Preparing... is the way we are to approach each day with Him...

He has prepared a way for us... into His presence...

...we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place

by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us

through the curtain, that is, his body...

Hebrews 10:19-20

He prepares a table for us... in the presence of the enemy...

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalm 23:5

Our appropriate response... prepare for the day... the journey... whatever may lie ahead...  with a sacrifice of thanks...

He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me,

and he prepares the way so that I may show him

the salvation of God...

Psalm 50:23

Through a preparation of thanksgiving... we prepare the way... so we may see the salvation of God... today...

How will you offer a sacrifice of thanks today...? how will I...?

an alarm to journey...

An alarm shall be blown 

whenever they are to set out on their journey.

Numbers 10:6 Amp

I read it in my reading through... this week in The Journey...

And I wonder... Is there always an alarm... to signal the beginning of a journey...?

Delving into the original language... I find the Hebrew means... 

teruwah... 1. alarm, signal, sound of a tempest, shout, shout or blast of war or alarm or joy. 1.a. alarm of war, war-cry, battle-cry 1b. blast (for march). 1c. shout of joy (with religious impulse). 1d. shout of joy (in general)

--- Enhanced Strong's Lexicon

And I think about my own journey... the alarm setting me on this journey seeking Him...

Mine was the sound of a tempest... a violent storm... tumult... uproar... 

The illness and death of my mom... this was my alarm... waking me to the need to journey... set out to a new place... and a new way...

And my latest journey... into the new shop...

That alarm... began quietly... but erupted with a shout of joy... taking the official steps... setting out with commitment...

But... are there alarms in the past...? ones I've missed...? alarms I ignored... neglected...?

Yes... I can think of a few...

Memories of alarms... still echo... bringing a mix of regret... and thanks...

Regret for journeys missed...

Thanks for His grace... His continued persistence... to pursue... and prod... this stiff-necked beast...

Alarms... joyful... tempestuous... or calls to battle... they are all signals to begin journeying...

Can you identify the alarms that set you off on your journey with Him...?
What about alarms you closed your ears to...? or let fear paralyze you from setting out...?

The Israelites had the priests... blowing out alarms on silver trumpets... to signal the time for a new journey...

In Christ... we have a great High Priest... who still graces us with alarms... signaling the time to move... journey... to a new place... with Him... and others...

Father God... make me attentive to the various alarms You set off in my life... I don't want to miss any part of the journey You have laid out for me...

a new journey...

new... adjective... 1: having recently come into existence: recent, modern 2 a (1): having been seen, used, or known for a short time: novel... (2): unfamiliar... b: being other than the former or old...

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.)

The new opportunity... presented several weeks ago... became confirmed today...

A new door opened... a new door entered...

Different than anything I've done before... new... a business opportunity... half-owner of a small shop...

The new partner... she asked... Are you scared now...?

And I have to say... No... not really able to identify one primary emotion...

I suppose as with any new... there is anticipation... excitement... joy... trepidation... and maybe... Yes... a little fear... but also thanksgiving...

This opportunity... came unsought... and unexpected...

Seemingly... from Him... or so I believe so much... I acted on it... after testing... and prayer...

So here I stand... on the threshold of a new journey... recently come into existence... known for a short time... unfamiliar... being other than the former...

Trusting Him... to lead... guide... and provide...

The Lord is my strength and my shield;

in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 28:7 ESV

Related fare...

the wonder of new... 

another day... of testing new...

mighty to save... [from October 29, 2013]

Greater is the One in me...
than the one in the world...

He is the Light...
that destroys the darkness...

The Savior who breaks...
the bonds of sin and death...

Stoops down... in mercy and compassion...
to redeem His lost creation...

So great is His love...
Mighty to save...

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:11-14

revival... does not happen... without repentance... [from July 5, 2013]

A spirit... soul... cannot be revived... refreshed... without a recognition of sin... and a turning from it...

We pray for revival... for churches... friends... family... whether it be a renewed relationship with God the Father through Christ by way of the Spirit... or it be an initiating of the relationship that raises the dead... but sometimes I think we forget... what must come first... repentance...

Repentance... can't happen without sin being revealed... acknowledged... and grieved over...

How often do we pray for revival in the life of a loved one... but as pain and strife enter their lives... we pray for healing... removal of the difficulty... release... escape... when this might be the pain... or difficulty... God has allowed... to get their attention... capture their heart...?

Unfortunately... pain... grief... despair... coming to the end of ourselves in it... is often the sole experience that brings us to our knees...

Some wandered in desert wastelands,

finding no way to a city where they could settle.

They were hungry and thirsty,

and their lives ebbed away.

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,

and he delivered them from their distress.

He led them by a straight way

to a city where they could settle.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men,

for he satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things.

Some sat in darkness and deepest gloom

prisoners suffering in iron chains,

for they had rebelled against the words of God

and despised the counsel of the Most High.

So he subjected them to bitter labor;

they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,

and he saved them from their distress.

He brought them out of darkness and deepest gloom

and broke away their chains.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men,

for he breaks down gates of bronze

and cuts through bars of iron.

Psalm 107:4-16

(emphasis added)

Perhaps our prayer... for those in pain... should be for them to cry out to the Lord in their trouble... for His purpose in the pain to be realized... for His will to be accomplished... in the unseen realm...

And for those of us struggling... like me over the last week or so... be open... to the Spirit... to counsel... reveal... and be willing... to grieve... turn... and... receive...

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:7-10

As hard as it is... to endure... or watch others suffer... we need to seek God... in His Sovereignty... ask Him how to pray... ask Him... to help us focus on the eternal... and not just... the needs of the flesh...

For what is seen is temporary,

but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18

Do you know someone who's suffering...? are you...?

How might you pray... in a way... that transforms... hearts... for eternity...? and His glory...?

battling [from February 27, 2013]

Sometimes... maybe ALL the time... a time of prayer... becomes a battleground...

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus...

He is always wrestling in prayer for you,

That you may stand firm in all the will of God,

mature and fully assured.

Colossians 4:12

(my emphasis)

Today... I was Epaphras... wrestling in prayer... for one to stand firm...

wrestling... laboring... struggling... all translations of the Greek... which means... to contend with adversaries... fight...

A spiritual battle... an unseen battle... yet real nonetheless...

The weapons we fight with are not weapons of the world.

On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

2 Corinthians 10:4

Intercession... a battle whose outcome has eternal consequences... an arena we need to enter fully equipped... and fully aware...

cling... a word that catches... [from January 13, 2013]

This morning... in my preparation for the day... I came across a verse... that stuck... a verse that prompted the deeper study... of a single word...

My soul clings to you;

your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 63:8

cling... a sticky word... 

The Hebrew... dabaq... defined... to cling... cleave to... to stay with... to be joined together... to pursue closely...

What does it look like... for a soul... to cling...?

Merriam-Webster... paints this picture... to hold together... to adhere as if glued firmly... to hold or hold on to tightly or tenaciously... to have a strong emotional attachment or dependence...

But... what does it look like...?

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Love... compels us to cling... with both hands... and all of self... 

We can only cling... to one thing at a time...

A soul that clings to God... 

lets go of everything else... 

including... control... 

the soul who clings to God... 

goes wherever... He goes...

But... our strength... alone... 

is not enough... to cling... 

powers pull... try to tear us away... 

so He... with His right hand... upholds... us... 

His strength... makes it possible... for a soul to cling... 

When we desire... to be near... to pursue... tenaciously... 

He... makes... it... possible...

My soul clings to You...

Your right hand upholds me...

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Is it your desire... to have a soul... that clings... to Him...?

What do you have to let go of... to cling...?

feeling wrong [from November 6, 2012]

What do you do... when everything you do... feels wrong...?
Find a reason to rejoice...!

Rejoice in the Lord always.

I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

[Note... this is current... 2014's journey...]

This week's readings for The Journey... 

Monday                     Exodus 40

Tuesday                     Leviticus 1-3

Wednesday                Leviticus 4:1 - 5:13

Thursday                    Leviticus 5:14 - 6:30

Friday                        Leviticus 7

hope... the precious pursuit of patience [from October 28, 2012]

Today... watching... and waiting... for various circumstances to unfold... wondering the outcome... feeling impatient... I'm reminded of the importance of waiting...

It was said at a writer's conference... concerning submissions being considered for publication...

If you want a quick answer... I can give you a quick answer: No!

A Yes takes time... you have to wait...

You have to wait for a Yes... but waiting can feel oppressive...  just let me know how it comes out... even if it's bad!

The end of a matter is better than its beginning...

Ecclesiastes 7:8

But shouldn't we be more concerned with the journey... than the outcome...?

We all want a Yes... but the lovely thing about being in Jesus is that it's ALL GOOD... everything a victory in Christ... even the No...

In CS Lewis's book... The Screwtape Letters... the end always throws me... the hero of the book... the main character pursued... dies... blown up by a bomb in battle... this end is portrayed as a WIN for God... and a tragic loss for Satan's side because the man... he died in Christ... his departure from the world depicted... as if a scab had fallen from an old sore... the hero set free from war and doubt through death... opposite from the world's view that inundates us each day...

The world urges us to see good only in life... healing... success... BUT...at one time or another... we all die... we all get sick... and we all fail... and for Believers... it's all part of the journey... not that we are to be cavalier about crisis... heartache... trials... we are to mourn with those who mourn... offer compassion... and mercy... yet we are not to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope...

So since we know it's ALL GOOD... in the end... shouldn't we just enjoy the trek... or at least be patient... trusting God with what there is to learn... and who and what will grow from each unknown circumstance...?

As we painstakingly watch people struggle... with...
sin...
sickness...
circumstances... of all kinds...
remember the patience of the farmer... the hope... the assurance of growth... and see an opportunity to exercise faith... pursue hope...

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

Psalm 84:3

(my emphasis)

An attitude of journey... pilgrimage... with Him as our strength... helps us to wait... hope... know for sure... that the end of the matter IS better than its beginning...

For in Christ... it's all victory... even if in this world it looks dead... and fruitless... for those IN CHRIST... it's a win...

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,

and there are no grapes on the vines;

even though the olive crop fails,

and the fields lie empty and barren;

even though the flocks die in the fields,

and the cattle barns are empty,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord!

I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Habakkuk 3:17-18

NLT

Father God... keep me focused on You... the good that is to come... the hope... and assurance...found in Christ.... I choose to journey... patiently... trusting in You... for strength...

the woe of seeing [from August 24, 2012]

When the Light of Truth shines... into your own heart... revealing... sin... corruption... perversity... then seeing the Word made flesh... in yourself... can be hard...

Such truth... leads to denial... justification... laying blame... or... as God intends... confession...

"Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty."

Isaiah 6:5

...and repentance...

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

2Corinthians 7:10

A woe... a pain... for good... when we choose to stand in the Light... and let it do the work... of transformation...

Father God... provide the faith needed... to stand in Your Light... to receive the truth of my sin... no matter how painful... and allow You to redeem the dark... for Your glory...

fellowship: lessons in humility [February 15,2012]

Called to clean up a mess that's not mine... in a domain that's not mine...

What will people think of me?

It's not my mess... why should I?

Can't You call someone else? ...it's messy...

Knowing there is no other Way... I went...

What I learned... experienced... connection with Christ...

He came to clean up a mess that wasn't His...
In a domain that wasn't His...
He carried a burden not His own...
Paid a price He did not owe...

Humility... His way... no room for pride... only Love...

Lord, help me to recognize and seize opportunities to clean up messes for others... without fanfare... without grumbling... Remind me that I bear Your name... O Lord God Almighty... Empty me of pride... fill me with Love...

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection

and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings,

becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow,

to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3:10-11

A challenge:
Identify with Christ... clean up a mess that is not yours... bear the complete burden... do it in secret... do not demand praise or seek recognition... do it to gain a keener understanding of the One who cleaned up after you...

writing hungry [from January 13,2012]

Writing...
re-writing the essence of writing...

Writing and re-writing words in hopes of making others hunger...
hunger for His Word...

Refining words that others might turn to the perfect Word...
He is found in His Word...

My own hunger increases...
my spirit yearns for more...

More of Him...
more life...
more...

Maybe His purpose in my writing is my hunger...
drawing me ever nearer and deeper into Him...

As the deer pants for streams of water,

so my soul pants for you, O God.

Psalm 42:1

Do you hunger for Him...?

for His Word...?

love is hard [from December6, 2011]

Loving others...
being other-centered when our natural position is self-centered...
hard...

Love...
patient... with difficult people and circumstances...
kind... when others are not...
not envious... when others get what you deserve...
not boastful... when your work is overlooked...
not proud... all are equal in God's eyes...
not rude... when others are...
not insistent... when your needs are not met...
not irritable... even on a really bad day...
not resentful... grace-full despite the debt...
does not delight in evil... even if it's what they deserve...
rejoices with the truth... even when it's about you...
always protects... bears the pain of others...
always believes... trusts when you are unsure...
always hopes... when history tells you otherwise...
always endures... remains in the hard place because it's right...

Love...
never fails...
     never ends...
          never wavers...
               never dies...

Loving others...
hard...

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him shall not perish

but have eternal life.

John 3:16

selective hearing [from November 3, 2011]

All children seem to suffer from selective hearing at times.
Even God's children:

This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy one of Israel says:

"In repentance and rest is your salvation,

in quietness and trust is your strength,

but you would have none of it. ..."

Isaiah 30:15

I've noticed in myself that some messages are easier to hear than others...

This is what the Lord says:

"Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is,

and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.

But you said, 'We will not walk in it.' ..."

Jeremiah 6:16

...some calls I respond to quickly, some I spiritually place my fingers in my ears and whistle...

While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord,

I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen;

I called you, but you did not answer.

Jeremiah 7:13

As with our own children, selective hearing has its consequences.

Missed opportunities, subsequent discipline, tighter boundaries.

Spiritually, as God's children, we also suffer the consequences of selective hearing... hardened hearts.

"But they refused to pay attention;

stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears.

They made their hearts as hard as flint

and would not listen to the law or to the words

that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit...

Zechariah 7:11, 12

When we refuse to listen... when we choose our own way rather than God's... when we say "I believe" but our actions speak otherwise... we harden our hearts.

So, as the Holy Spirit says:

"Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts..."

Hebrews 3:8