"Listen Close"

 I heard the Good Lord speak today,

You often hear that, people say,

I did not hear Him in that way,

I had to listen close.

The rustle of the leaves was all,

The blowing breeze through trees so tall,

The whistle in the grasses small,

But it was there the most,

I had to listen close.

I heard the Good Lord speak today,

Some skeptical, the heck you say,

Not up to them if it’s okay,

I need to listen close.

The whisper there in sunrise beams,

The moonlight’s great reflection seems,

To speak to me of grace-filled themes,

They lift me from my lows,

I need to listen close.

I heard the Good Lord speak today,

No hymns or organ chords to play,

But a redbird chirped, then flew away,

I’m glad I listened close.

These birds they seem to say so much,

The hawk’s cry so far out of touch,

But close it seems their feathers brush,

My heart-strings feel the most,

I’m glad I listened close.

I heard the Good Lord speak today,

The words were there, I heard Him say,

His presence near, He’ll always stay,

Thank God He is that close.

My horses’ hoofbeats as they run,

Not from fear, just having fun,

And in their mane the words were spun,

He loves His children most,

Thank God He is that close.

“…they follow Him because they know His voice…” (John 10:4, NLT)

Jesus said that His sheep would recognize His voice. That used to make me uncomfortable because I wasn’t sure I had ever actually heard the Lord’s voice. People would say that the Lord had spoken to them and I wondered about it a lot. Why not me? Then someone explained to me that the Lord spoke in lots of different ways, and sometimes it was more like a feeling than actual words as we use them. Sometimes He would communicate through creation or situations or people or music or the pages of scripture. His voice would be something you felt in the deepest part of who you are, but you had to be attentive to it. Paying attention or “listening close,” as the poem says, meant screening out the other noise, even it was on the inside. The more I have done these things the more I have actually heard Him. But I don’t believe for a minute it’s any different for any of His children who listen close.

Lord, help us pay attention to what You are saying to us, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Mark Maggiori, markmaggiori.com. Used by permission. Thanks, Mark, and God bless you.