Do You Hear What I Hear?

The second verse of this wonderful Christmas carol is:
“Said the little lamb to the Shepherd boy,
Do you hear what I hear? Ringing through the sky Shepherd boy.
Do you hear what I hear? A song, a song, high above the trees,
With a voice as big as the sea. With a voice as big as the sea.”

What was that song the little lamb was referring to? The song of God made flesh as a heaven-sent baby that brought hope, peace, joy, and love to this world.

Yesterday, I spoke about our voices and what we say that can make a diffence (good or bad) in our lives. Today, it’s about our ears and what they hear.

I think our Heavenly Father steps into our lives, more than ever, at this time of the year, because we emphasize what Christmas is all about. If we stay in touch with Him by listening, sensing, and being aware of His presence and His voice – we’ll escape the chaos and concerns that this season can bring.

That’s what I love about Advent. We are magnetically drawn into the Christmas story every time we hear a carol or see another manger scene.

God showed up as a baby 2,000+ years ago. Be still and listen. We just might hear Him in a baby’s cry. “Can you hear Me?” He asks.

Time and again, we find ourselves so caught up in the “noise” – our phone, social media, the TV or radio, our playlist, our computer, our anxious thoughts – that we miss out on our “Shepherd’s” frequency.

Many times, like our children, we do hear, but our minds are far off. We may be as guilty as our kids are when we’ve told them time and again to do something. They act like they never heard us. So often, the things we say to our children are the very things God wants us, His children, to hear:

“I am the Parent and you are the child — that’s why!” “Be still. Listen. Seek Me and you will find Me. I will share my heart with you.” Enter the stable where Your Savior awaits your presents of surrender. Your presence surrendered to His presence!

I have some good tidings of great joy for us today. We CAN hear God’s voice. The Bible, God’s love letter to mankind, makes it clear that we were created with the ability to have two-way communication with Him. Jesus tells us in John 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

I pray for us today: Dear God, please forgive us for being so caught up in the season that we’ve lost the ability to hear your still small voice. Please help us to listen carefully to what You have to say to us. Please help us to be “first responders” to YOUR voice.

Amid all the hustle and bustle and the busyness in our own little worlds, may we tune in to YOUR heavenly frequency, your voice — whether it’s your still, small voice or your obvious loud and clear voice…..not eventually, but immediately! Thank you for your patience as our loving Father! Amen.