If you’re like me, listening to God can sometimes be put on the back burner, but it can have devastating consequences.
Let’s take a look at what the book of Zechariah says about it:
11 “But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears. 12 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 through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry.
13 “‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 7:11-13)
As I was doing my devotional yesterday and again today, I was drawn to this scripture.
Before I share this, I just want to say that this is one passage from scripture.
It’s not meant to be a theological stance.
It’s just what God was speaking to me today.
I share this because maybe you need to hear the same message.
Again, this is not a theological stance.
It’s just something God pointed out to me with this particular passage.
Related Posts:
Listening to God:
Bible verses from Zechariah
The Lord’s been working on me about some obedience and behavior stuff lately.
Spiritual growth is a continuous process with a living God.
It’s exciting AND sometimes frustrating.
When you think you have something taken care of, it shows back up or God gives you your next challenge.
Listening to God can be exciting and easy, but it can sometimes be scary and difficult.
The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
It’s interesting how God moves our hearts, how he uses the things in our life to bring us closer to him, and how he seems to position people and situations in our life that will really drive home the point he’s trying to make.
I mean, have you ever noticed that when God asks you to DO something or NOT do something and you ignore it… the message seems to begin popping up up everywhere?
Have you ever noticed that when God asks you to do (or NOT do) something, and you ignore it.. the message seems to start popping up up everywhere? #god Click To TweetThe reason according to this scripture (as I see it, I’m no Bible scholar), is that it makes God angry when we don’t listen to him because we are choosing to ignore him.
When we don’t listen, the first thing this scripture tells us is that it’s because we are actively choosing not to.
There’s a difference between not hearing and not listening.
When I ask my children to do something and they don’t do it… then we need to chat.
But that conversation is dramatically different if they didn’t hear me.
Not hearing is one thing.
Not listening is totally different.
This scripture says the people “stubbornly” refused to pay attention, turned their backs, covered their ears, and made their hearts hard.
But guess what.
God knows the heart.
He knows if you didn’t hear him… or if you heard him and you’re choosing to ignore him.
There’s no fooling the God of the Universe.
My kids may fool me occasionally, but you won’t ever fool God.
What Happens if You Don’t Listen to God
So we’ve established that when you don’t listen to God, it makes him angry (“So the Lord Almighty was very angry“).
This passage goes on to say one of the scariest things I’ve ever found in scripture.
It’s his response in verse 13.
13 “‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty. (Zechariah 7:11-13)
That verse shakes me to the core.
It should shake you too.
Some of my most heartfelt and passionate prayers come from a place of desperation.
Have you ever been there?
Been on your knees in desperation?
These prayers and requests come when life is hard.
When times are tough.
When I have no other options left.
Maybe you know what I’m talking about.
Are you familiar with those prayers that come with tears, maybe anger, maybe questions of why?
Why me?
Why this?
Why now?
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, I’m happy for you and I hope you never have to pray through such raw and emotional prayers.
If you do know what I’m talking about, then this scripture will terrify you.
Why?
Because, if you’re like me, when I’m not listening to God on an issue in my life, it’s not usually a matter of life or death.
I’m not trying to ignore God.
Usually, I’ve reasoned my way out of believing the message is from God because I just don’t want to do it, whatever “it” is.
But when I’m praying those passionate, heartfelt, and raw prayers that come in the darkest times of my life… I want to be heard.
I absolutely want to be heard.
Actually, I need to be heard.
Sometimes these prayers ARE life or death.
Maybe somebody I care for has their life or health hanging in the balance.
When that happens you feel a powerlessness unlike any other life experience.
The last thing I want is for God to ignore me or not hear me because I ignored him.
The older I get, the more I’m connecting the dots of the spiritual world with the physical world.
In the physical world, to every action there is a reaction.
It’s Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion which states, “For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.”
To every behavior, a consequence.
Would it be to outrageous to think that this law was by design?
Something put there by our Creator.
As a way to teach us the laws of the spiritual world,
God gives us context through the physical laws of the universe.
So consider this today.
What if that thing you’re praying about and going to God about, the thing that doesn’t seem to be changing (or is getting worse), is because you have not been obedient to God?
I’m not suggesting this is the case in every situation.
In fact, it’s not. Job shows us that.
Sometimes, life just happens and it sucks.
But sometimes (I suspect) there are spiritual laws at work that are dependent on our obedience to God.
If this is true, obedience to God has much bigger implications and more severe consequences than I thought.
Maybe it’s not true or I’m reading it wrong.
But if it will help me master myself and help me force my flesh submit to my Spirit, then I choose to believe it.
If you’d like a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, visit our salvation page.
Questions for Reflection/Action Steps
- What is something God has asked you to do or not do that you’ve hardened your heart against?
- What can you do today to start taking steps toward what he has asked of you?
Prayer
God, I want to be better at listening to your voice.
Not just hearing it, but doing what you ask.
Please give me the ears to hear and the courage to do what you ask me to do.
I know you’ve asked me to ______________, but it’s hard for me.
Truth be told, I don’t want to.
Please give me the desire to want to be obedient to you.
Then help me submit to your will.
I want to know you more.
Amen.
