Written by Patti Walters

Effects of Hearing

As we know, hearing is one of the five senses with which God has blessed us. What we hear can affect us emotionally, physically and spiritually. Hearing is a part of our lives that we usually take for granted. Most of us love the sound of birds chirping and children playing. Most of us do not like the sound of jackhammers – that are too loud. But it is all a matter of personal preference. Maybe your father ran a jackhammer and the sound fondly reminds you of him. Maybe you are trying to sleep in, for once, and those birds and kids should be quiet for a while longer.

When we hear something good, we can have all kinds of wonderful emotions: joy, excitement, happiness. You get that bouncy feeling. You are so thankful to the Lord that you are spiritually “up.”
“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up.”
Proverbs 12:25 NIV

When we hear something bad, it can also affect us emotionally, physically and spiritually. When we hear someone take the Lord’s name in vain it grieves us (an emotion); if they say it constantly it can make us angry (a physical reaction), and it can be (spiritually) depressing.
“O my God, my soul is cast down within me.”
Psalm 119:158

Hearing gossip can be destructive not only to the person being discussed, but also to the hearer. It can leave a bad taste in your mouth. Sometimes, conversations do not start out as gossip but subtly become gossip. The best thing to do is either redirect the conversation or walk away.

Spiritual Hearing

There is not only the physical sense of hearing, but also spiritual hearing, which is listening to god. His voice is so soft and quick; you really have to be paying attention to know He has spoken to you.

“Be still, and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10a
It is difficult in today’s world to just be still. Think about listening to someone while you are doing something else. You cannot really listen well, because that other thing is distracting. If you are driving, you have to watch the road; if you are cooking, you have to pay attention to the stove. In order to have a meaningful conversation you must devote your complete attention to that person in order to really hear what they are saying. The same is true of listening to the Lord. We need to work out a quiet time and place to meditate and listen. When my kids were young, I used to have my quiet time at night when they were in bed. In I Kings 19:12 it says that the Lord spoke to Elijah in “a still small voice.” Do you ever get a thought of a person while in prayer or during the day, or when you wake up in the middle of the night? That may be the Holy Spirit prompting you to pray for them. Do it immediately; don’t put it off, or you will forget.

The Word

Another way to hear from God is through His Word. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17 There are many ways to hear the Word. One good way is reading your Bible; really studying it is even better. When you read the Word of God, the Holy Spirit gives you recollection when you need it. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 Attend church regularly to hear the Word taught. Be involved in a Bible study, especially one with homework to do during the week. That will help you to get into the habit of opening your Bible everyday. Invest in resource books so you can look up words you don’t understand; have a Bible dictionary close at hand.

Weight the Voice

In John 20:11-18 after the resurrection Jesus spoke to Mary at the tomb. She did not realize that it was Him until He said her name. The Bible does not tell us why that happened, but He might have spoken in a certain way to make her recognize Him. We hear a voice, how do we know it’s from the Lord? We weigh it against Scripture to know if it’s from God.
“...he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth: and the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”
John 10:3, 4

That’s why it’s so very important to know the Word. There are some instances when it is a practical thing where we have to pray and make the best judgment – like buying a car or changing jobs. But if you want to leave your spouse just because you want to be with another person, you can know that isn’t God speaking to you, because you know what God’s Word says about marriage. How would your actions hold up to Scripture?

James 1:19 says, “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” Be careful about how you react to what you hear:

• If someone starts to gossip, how will you react?
• If someone says something unkind, how will you react?
• If someone says something unscriptural, how will you react?
• If the Holy Spirit speaks to your heart, how will you react?

Just a side note: Even though we are sometimes “hearing impaired,” the Lord never is. Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”