“Did you hear me?”
This was a phrase my mom often asked when I was younger, usually after she corrected a behavior that didn’t align with the principles she worked hard to instill in me. I would respond with a respectful, “Yes ma’am,” — because anything other than that would have led to consequences I had no interest in exploring.
But looking back, I have to ask myself:
Did I actually hear her… or was I listening?
It’s easy to assume that hearing and listening are the same thing, but they’re not.
Hearing is passive — it’s one of our five senses and simply allows us to perceive sound.
Listening, though? It’s intentional.
Listening requires a decision. It demands focus. It asks you to be present with the sound you’re receiving, not just notice that a sound was made.
That’s deep.
And it makes me wonder:
Are you truly listening to others?
Are you listening to God?
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” — John 10:27 (NIV)
God’s voice isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s a whisper you can only hear once you quiet the noise around you.
Following Him means we have to listen for His direction, not just acknowledge that He’s speaking.
I remember telling my therapist a few years ago, there were times when I made a conscious decision not to listen during conversations that didn’t interest me. I could hear the words — but I wasn’t really present. I wasn’t engaged. I wasn’t listening.
The same can happen in our spiritual lives. We can hear the sermons, the songs, the scriptures… but are we listening?
Are we tuned in enough to recognize when God is giving us a gentle nudge or a necessary correction?
Today, I challenge you — and myself — to go beyond hearing.
Let’s listen.
Let’s be intentional.
Let’s pay attention.
Because following starts with listening. And real listening changes everything.