"Don't Just Listen.....Follow"

By: Zach Wood

Psalm 5:8 (NLT)

Lead me in the right path, O LORD, or my enemies will conquer me. Tell me clearly what to do, and show me which way to turn.

 

 

I have a problem to confess.  I want to be upfront about it and stay away from denial.  I have, and have always had, a problem with listening.  I don't always "hear" things.  I have heard the phrase many times, "You hear what you want to hear."  Growing up, I remember my parents telling me things, but many times I only remembered what I chose to hear.  I also had tubes in my ears as a child, which was not a pleasant experience.  I often use that excuse when someone tells me, "Zach, you're not listening to me."  However, the excuse does not get me very far. 

 

I have discovered in my life that listening to directions is critical and important to completing a task, arriving at a first-time destination, and being able to complete school and college assignments successfully.  I remember my grandfather taking my cousins and I camping together when we were growing up.  It was a fun experience and one I will never forget!  We would always take time putting up the tents in our campground area.  We had to listen and follow each direction my grandfather gave us.  Even though it took a lot of time, the tent would not be stable if we had missed a step.  I appreciated how detailed he was in helping us to understand how important it is to think through and follow directions.  I am not saying that I have always followed through with every set of directions placed in front of me since then.  Directions can take a long time to follow.  Right after my wife and I got married, we bought a new dresser.  It took me 8 hours to put that thing together!  One hour of that time consisted of me turning the dresser the wrong way and nailing the backboard to the front where the drawers were supposed to go!  Ahhhh!  How frustrating!  Since I had been working on it for several hours, I dropped the hammer and took a break.  I don't know why I turned it the wrong way, but I did.  Somehow, I got distracted and wasn't paying close enough attention.

 

Listening is not the only key factor when it comes to directions and instructions.....following is also important!  Someone gives us directions, but we think we know a better route and a better short-cut.  You have probably heard the famous phrase, "Guys don't stop to ask for directions".  I know that I am guilty of not stopping to ask for directions sometimes.  There are directions and instructions galore!  What more do we need?  Sometimes, we just want to do our own thing, right?  God created us with a brain to make smart decisions.  We need to use our brain and heart to listen to Him. Then we need to follow His directions and instructions for life.  If we are not following Him, we are being led astray by the enemy of this world.  Therefore, God needs to be the One to lead us.  My challenge is that each day we would all pray for God to lead us.