Reading With the People of God #12 - the Good LifeSample

Hearing and Heeding God’s Voice

It’s easy to dismiss warnings or wisdom when they don’t align with what we want to hear. Yet Scripture teaches that how we listen and respond to God’s truth shapes our lives.

In 1 Kings 20, a prophet delivers a message of judgment to King Ahab, who had spared an enemy God had condemned. Ahab refuses to heed the warning, reacting with anger instead of repentance. His unwillingness to listen ultimately leads to his downfall.

Jesus, in Matthew 7:1-12, teaches about discernment and how we engage with others. He warns against hypocritical judgment, calls us to seek God in prayer, and urges us to treat others as we want to be treated. His words demand a heart that listens—one that is humble, receptive, and responsive to God’s direction.

Paul, in Philippians 4, gives a picture of what it looks like to walk in this kind of wisdom. Instead of resisting God’s instruction, we are to rejoice, pray, and set our minds on what is true and good. A heart that listens to God’s voice is a heart at peace.

As you read these passages, ask yourself:

Am I listening when God speaks, or am I resisting His guidance?