We probably all know the feeling when someone doesn’t want us around. It’s painful. For some reason, they don’t come out with it plainly and clearly, but we get the clear impression that we are not welcome. However, it is much more tragic when people decide that they don’t want God around, and that’s how the psalmist described Israel. He was the God who had led them out of slavery in Egypt. He was nothing less than their God of salvation, but time and again they rejected him and refused to listen to him.

We are not just talking about ancient history – we are describing our society today. The majority of people totally ignore God. They don’t want him around because they think he will spoil their fun. They are concerned that they will lose their freedom. However, we need to take every opportunity to inform people that actually he is the God who wants to fill their lives with good things. As the psalmist put it in Psalm 84:11, “The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Far from spoiling our fun, God’s desire is to complete our enjoyment of life. Far from limiting our freedom, God enables us to find true freedom for the first time.

The key to receiving God’s blessing is listening. Israel’s refusal to listen to God was at the heart of their downfall. God is kind and merciful, and as soon as we listen to him, he is able to bless us. Listening is much more than simply hearing. The listening that we need to do is all about giving God our full attention and showing our willingness to turn his words into action. When we listen like that, it is like opening our mouths wide, and, when we do, God is then able to fill us with good things.

Why do we often find it hard to listen to God?

Lord God our Father, we thank you that you are always looking for an opportunity to bless us. Help us to listen hard to your voice and be willing to turn your words into action. Amen