We often say, “I’m listening,” but most of us are just waiting for our turn to speak. We do this with God, too – we read the Bible, pray, yet rarely let His words truly change us. The ancient Hebrews had a word that exposes this: shema. Translated as “hear,” it means far more. Shema means to hear in such a way that you cannot stay the same. When God told Israel, “If you will indeed obey my voice” (Exodus 19:5), the word “obey” was actually shema. Hearing and obeying were one act. Israel’s central prayer – the Shema – begins, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord your God is one Lord. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). Hearing God was never just about sound; it was about action. God still speaks – through Scripture, creation, people, and His Spirit. The question is not whether He’s speaking, but whether we are listening with our lives. Real listening shows in how we treat our families, handle conflict, and face fear. “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:28). (Sarah J) Open Bible – https://bit.ly/Exo19v5, https://bit.ly/Deu6v4-8, https://bit.ly/Luk11v28
