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Learning to Listen to God Every Day

What I listen to affects how I feel about my life

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” GENESIS 3:1-5 NIV

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, EPHESIANS 5:19-20 NCV

Those who walk righteously… stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil— ISAIAH 33:15 NIV

Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander. PROVERBS 17:4 NLT

Who I listen to will make or break my life

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked?” GENESIS 3:6-11 ESV

Learning to listen to Jesus will change my life

You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. JOHN 15:3 NIV

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” MARK 1:40-41 NLT

Learning to listen to Jesus will direct my life

To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. MATTHEW 13:12 NLT

Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The LORD our God is the one and only LORD. MARK 12:29 NLT

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. DEUTERONOMY 6:4-15 ESV

There is only one God and I am not him

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. DEUTERONOMY 6:4 ESV

I am called to love God like he loves me

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. DEUTERONOMY 6:5-6 ESV

I have a moral responsibility to teach the next generation to follow God

You shall teach them diligently to your children, DEUTERONOMY 6:7 ESV ESV

My life should center around God

and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. DEUTERONOMY 6:7 ESV

My faith should be seen in my work

You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, DEUTERONOMY 6:8 ESV

My faith should guard what I watch

they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. DEUTERONOMY 6:8 ESV

I must learn scripture and apply it to my life

You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. DEUTERONOMY 6:9 ESV

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Look for a place that is reasonably free from distractions that will help you become calm in your thoughts and feelings. Ask God to help you do this. Take a few deep breaths. When you sense you can focus on the presence of God, commit the time to Him for His purposes. Think about the things you often listen to–the music, shows, movies, social media, news, podcasts. Ask God to help you discern what messages they are saying to you, and how they are affecting your thoughts, feelings, and actions. Which messages are positive or productive, and which ones are not? Imagine what your life would be like if you listened to what God had to say more than anything else. Have a conversation with God about how you can better listen to what He has to say to you throughout the day. What are some ideas that came to your mind?

Discussion Questions

Choose a couple of the following questions from each section that best fit your

group. Or have everyone read the questions, choosing which one(s) from each section

they feel led to respond to.

  1. START HERE: Has someone ever told you something that was life-giving? What did they say?
  2. START HERE: How has your taste in music and movies changed over the years?
  3. START HERE: What are some of the most meaningful verses in scripture to you, and how have these given direction to your life?
  4. KEEP GOING: How do the things you watch and listen to shape your thoughts, feelings, actions, and faith?
  5. KEEP GOING: Who is watching your example, and what would they say is most important in your life?
  6. KEEP GOING: Read the Shema: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NLT). In what areas of your life are you not loving God?
  7. KEEP GOING: How would your life be different if the words of Jesus were the most important words you listened to?
  8. KEEP GOING: What do your current Bible reading habits look like and what are some obstacles you find in making this a regular habit?
  9. LIVE IT OUT: Commit as a group to reading the Shema, Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NLT), every morning this week. Set a reminder on your phones right now. Each day, try a different way of engaging the scripture (e.g., read it out loud, write it down, or have it read out loud to you).
  10. LIVE IT OUT: Consider something you regularly consume (music, movies, social media, news, etc) that you can disconnect from this week, even for 24 hours. Make a note of the thoughts and feelings you have during and after this exercise. Share with your group what you discover.