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?

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 18:10

by David Chadwick

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”

Proverbs 18:10

There is power in the name of the Lord. Today’s proverb reminds us of that. The name of the Lord provides safety to all who call upon it.

In the Old Testament, the Jews thought God's name was so holy they would never even utter it, but in the New Testament, all of the world comes to know that the name of the Lord is Jesus. The name that always carried such power is revealed through the life and ministry of the Son of God, who took away all the sins of the world.

A strong tower. Some translations say a “fortress.” This should bring such confidence to all sons and daughters of the Most High. We are impenetrable to the enemy. A place of protection and refuge. According to the Word of God, when the righteous run into this tower, they can look down on all of their enemies and be safe.

Did you know that whoever has the highest position in a battle most often wins? That's why when we look at the name of the Lord and see him as a strong tower, we should walk in complete confidence that we are safe and secure. His ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).

In the New Testament, Jesus regularly instructs his followers to pray in his name. What does it mean to pray in his name? It means to pray according to his character and his will.

There is something so powerful about the name of Jesus. Just the mention of his name makes enemies flee. Did you know that there are even stories of young children who have been captured and begin to sing songs in the name of Jesus, and their captors set them free?

When we pray, let us pray in the mighty name of Jesus, running into the strong tower of the Lord. As we do, we go higher and higher. Our perspective will change because we will be seated with him in the heavenlies.

Because of the name of Jesus, we are declared righteous once we put our faith in him. He controls and oversees all.

And we are forever safe from all of the enemy’s onslaughts and attacks.

Our Favorite Proverbs: Proverbs 21:1

by David Chadwick

“The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” Proverbs 21:1

This proverb is a wonderful reminder about the sovereignty of God over everything in this world, even rulers and kings. He rules and reigns above everything. This verse shares a similar truth to another proverb in Proverbs 16:9, which says, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

Think about a stream of water for a moment; the way it flows, twists, and turns. Solomon declares this stream is directed by the Lord.

The Lord directs a leader’s heart in any way he pleases. Leaders and influential people in the world might think they control the destiny of the world, but they don't. God sovereignly controls his world. He oversees everything with intentionality for our good, for his purposes to be accomplished on the earth, and ultimately for his final glory.

For a moment, let’s jump to Daniel 2:21, which says, “He (God) changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” I love this verse. God has raised up and lowered leaders throughout all of history.

Contextually, Daniel was sitting under the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar. But according to the Bible, even this king, the most powerful man in the world at that time, was under God's sovereign power.

The same is true today. There are leaders and rulers making all kinds of noise and “rattling their sabers” to flex their power and establish their importance. As followers of Jesus, what should be our response to this?

First, continue to look to our sovereign God, the maker of heaven and earth, the one who controls everything!

Secondly, pray for those who are in authority over us. Pray for wisdom for our president and for other leaders throughout the world. Pray that they would seek God and his will above all else.

Above all, may we never be anxious, trusting fully in God's perfect plan over all nations and leaders.