Shema - Hearing with the Heart

I love the rich concept of the word “shema”… to hear with the heart. The LORD God of Israel tells His children in Deuteronomy 6:4 to “shema” to “hear". To hear with their hearts… to listen to His voice, to love Him with all of their might and to walk with Him in obedience.  And so it is with us! In the New Covenant believers are admonished to always have “ears to hear”. But hearing needs silence. The mixed blessings of technology can make it very challenging to develop a listening heart. The small “still voice” of the Holy Spirit can easily be muffled under the din of an ongoing newscast. A radio plays, a phone rings and the ever-exciting internet beckons… not to mention our never ending “busy” schedules.  Without vigilance and diligence, a day fades and another begins… only to find ourselves asking “Where have the hours gone?” Was there any quality time  spent in prayer with Him today… time in reading His Word… in “hearing” His voice… was there anything that wrought godly changes in my soul? Did I make a difference in His Kingdom…for His Kingdom, in obedience, because I  “heard”? Hebrews 5:14 tells us that the senses of the spirit are refined through practice, through our continual usage of them. Obviously, the willingness to “be still and know that He is God” requires a concerted effort …an effort to focus. …to be disciplined…a need to take the time to “hear". That’s our part. However the “wax” in our spiritual ears from yesterday must be cleaned out today. And so it is when we ask Him. Confidently with David we can petition “Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me” knowing that He will cleanse us and give us His strength to set our “ears” and our hearts aright! He will forgive us and enable us to do His will on earth as it is done in Heaven.  How His mercies endure forever! Our cries are ever answered and our voices ever heard. Praise His Name, He is so good!!  Yes, Heaven truly knows the meaning of "Shema"!  Jesus- The Mighty King of Kings and Lord of Lords-  “hears us with His heart”... always...whenever we call!