Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 4:20, Training our Heart to Hear God's Voice

by Marilynn Chadwick

"My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings." Proverbs 4:20

Consider the miracle of speech. Our voice sets us apart from the animals. It allows us to communicate with each other and with God. Think of the people whose voice is familiar to you. When my husband David calls, he doesn't have to identify himself. I know his voice because I know him so well. So it is with God. The better we get to know him, the more easily we recognize his voice.

A recurring theme throughout the book of Proverbs is the importance of listening to God. Proverbs 4:20 challenges us to be diligent. Let's reflect on three different versions of this verse:

• "My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings" (Prov 4:20 ESV).
• "My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words" (Prov 4:20 NLT).
• "Listen well to my words; tune your ears to my voice. Keep my message in plain view at all times. Concentrate! Learn it by heart!" (Prov. 4:20 MSG).

I like how the Message Bible paraphrase reminds us to "tune our ears" to God's voice. One way we can do this is by spending time reading and meditating on his Word. It helps to follow up with prayer—ongoing conversations with God.

Training our heart to hear God's voice is one of our most important tasks as believers. Quite a challenge in our busy, noisy world! Daily, we're bombarded by so many voices. Not every voice we hear in our head is from God.

God's Word promises us that listening to his voice will bring blessings and protection. "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him" (Deuteronomy 30:19-20a NIV).

Many years ago, when I decided to follow Jesus, I began to recognize his voice. Suddenly, God's Word began to make sense. I reminded our children when they were very young that when they trusted Jesus as their Savior, they, too, could hear his voice. Jesus promises, "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27).

Listen to the Lord. Tune your ears to his voice. He is always speaking. Will we be listening?