AUDIO PODCAST

SH’MA YISRAEL: THE HIDDEN TREASURES OF LISTENING TO GOD

Tell me, where are you right now? Not physically, but in the depths of your soul. Are you searching? Are you yearning for answers, or perhaps simply hoping to feel something—anything—beyond the mundane routine of life? If so, take heart. You are not here by accident.

Begin where you are. Let us walk this path together. Faith, like a seed, doesn’t demand perfect soil. It doesn’t require a rainstorm of emotion or the glow of spiritual fireworks. It simply asks for a crack in the ground, a whisper of willingness, and the courage to listen.

Tell Me About Yourself… and Your Faith

Who are you? Not your name, not your profession, not even the roles you play in the lives of others. Who are you when the world falls silent? Faith is not built upon titles or accolades; it is forged in the quiet corners of our being, where we are stripped of all pretenses. Hebrews 11:3 reminds us:

“By faith we understand…that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

Your faith—yes, your faith—is the bridge between the seen and the unseen, the temporal and the eternal, between ignorance and understanding. Whatever you do, and however you do it to increase your faith, faith will automatically begin giving you access to greater understanding, even beyond the verses you are meditating on and internalising. You may feel as though your faith is small now, but even a mustard seed holds the potential to move mountains. Begin there. Begin here. Begin now!

Did You Read the Post I Sent You?

Whether you read it or not, consider this: You are constantly being sent messages. Some come in the form of Scripture; others arrive as whispered truths from the Spirit, carried on the winds of daily life. Have you paused to listen? Truly listen?

Jesus spoke in parables not to confuse but to invite. Luke 8:9-10 says:

“To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’”

Parables act as a spiritual filter, separating those who approach with humility and faith from those who rely solely on their intellect or pride. They are not merely stories; they are keys to the hidden mysteries of the kingdom of God, accessible only through revelation by the Spirit. This design is intentional—those who lean on their own understanding may hear the words but miss their deeper meaning, while the humble listener—those who come to Christ in prayer—are guided by the Spirit, uncovering the deeper treasures concealed within the packaged parables.

These secrets are not the domain of the educated or the powerful mind. They are mysteries—hidden things. The Greek word for “secret” here is mystērion, and its roots trace back to the Hebrew word seter, meaning “concealed” or “covered.”

These truths cannot be deciphered by human intellect or effort; they must be revealed by God. But how can He reveal them to us if we are not listening?

As Romans 10:17 tells us:

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

The Word of God is not just spoken but breathed by the Spirit into your heart. It is the Spirit who lifts the veil, who uncovers the seter, and allows you to see clearly the treasures of the kingdom.

Faith comes by active hearing, that is what “listening” is. How then will you have faith if you are not listening? And how will you then understand, or comprehend, or perceive, without faith? The onus is not on God to speak but on us to listen for His voice.

Shḥma Yisrael: Listen!

The very first commandment given to Israel was to listen. Deuteronomy 6:4 declares:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” (Shḥma Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Eḥad)

To “listen” in this context is more than hearing sounds; it is an act of obedience,of listening, an opening of one’s heart to receive and act upon the truth. Faith begins with active intentional listening. It begins with yielding. And the Holy Spirit, our Helper, is ever ready to guide us in this sacred practice. John 14:25-26 reassures us:

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”

Begin Where You Are

You do not need to wait for a better moment, or a better teacher. The Helper, the Holy Spirit, is already here. 1 John 2:26-27 reminds us:

“I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything—and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you—abide in him.”

Your journey begins now. The Spirit teaches and reminds. You have already been equipped with everything you need; the anointing abides in you. Will you yield to it? Will you let the Spirit guide you to truth, protect you from deception, and illuminate your path?

Are you engaging in the spiritual act-practice-process of intentional listening? Do you know how to listen?

“Hark [hear, listen]! The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes with swiftness and grace, leaping over the mountains, bounding across the hills with uncontainable passion!”

This verse from Song of Solomon 2:8 evokes a scene of love and longing, where the beloved’s arrival is not merely heard but felt—a sound that stirs the heart and awakens anticipation.

It reflects the deep yearning and joyful response of a soul attuned, longing, and seeking for the one it cherishes. In the greater context of the Song of Solomon, this poetic imagery speaks to the unrelenting pursuit of the beloved, who appears aloof at first, a love that overcomes every obstacle with determination and fervour.

The true believer stands unshaken in the face of the unyielding constraints of this fleeting, material world, for they understand they are but a veil—transient and thin—hiding the eternal soul beneath. They know that it is not the Beloved who withdraws but we who stray, lost amidst the illusions of a world that entices and hypnotises our senses. The silence we feel is not His absence but our own—a silence born of absent hearts that wander, too distracted to listen, too tangled in the noise that separates us from His gentle call.

We have wandered far from the sacred space where the Divine whispers softly to our souls, inviting us to rest in His eternal embrace. This is not a place of flesh but of spirit—where the soul finds its truest peace in the arms of its Creator. Here, our Beloved waits, His voice tender, unhurried, and ever near—even when we cannot hear it. The distance we feel is not of His making but the consequence of our own neglect, lost in the illusive pleasures of this ephemeral world.

His whispers are constant, soft, and always waiting, calling us to listen. We have drifted from the sacred place where eternal truths are revealed, where His voice speaks clearly only to those who quiet the world and still their hearts. It is not a physical space but a realm of spiritual closeness, where intimacy with the Divine is found in the silence of surrender.

And even in our absence, He remains near, calling us softly with love that never demands but only invites. He waits for us to return, to rest once again in His embrace, where our hearts, weary from wandering, find peace in His eternal presence.

Whether interpreted as a romantic declaration or an allegory of Christ’s love for His people, the dramatic entrance of the beloved symbolises a love that transcends distance, a voice that beckons with irresistible allure, and a movement that signifies urgency and desire. It reminds us that true love is active, vibrant, and always in pursuit of connection.

“Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68)

Listen!

Faith requires listening—not just with your ears but with your heart.

“Let Him who has ears hear” (Luke 8:8)

This world is a cacophony, each distraction clamouring for our attention. Yet the Spirit speaks in a gentle whisper, a voice that requires our deliberate focus to hear. To believe in Him demands trust, and trust is born from truly knowing. But how can we come to know Him unless we make time to be with Him, to listen, and to understand? Only through such intimate communion can we recognise the depth of His presence and the strength of His voice.

So, stop running. Stop striving. Pause. In the stillness, let your soul lean into the Word. Memorise it. Meditate on it. Let Hebrews 11:3, Luke 8:9-10, and John 14:25-26 become not just verses you know but truths you live.

And as you listen, you will find that the kingdom of God is not far off. It is here, within you, calling you into a deeper understanding of His love, His purpose, and His eternal promises. He is everything you are looking for.

Final Thoughts

You may feel small, insignificant, or unworthy—trapped in the belief that your flaws define you. But faith is not shaped by your feelings; it is rooted in the truth of who He is. He, the Creator of all things, has already chosen you, not because of your love or goodness but because of His. His grace does not depend on your merit, but on His boundless mercy.

The only requirement is for you to come and receive; drink deeply of His love.

So, where you are right now is where the journey begins. You don’t need to wait for a better moment, a more perfect version of yourself. You simply need to draw near in prayer as you are (Romans 12:1), ready to receive the quiet invitation that calls out from beyond the veil. The Word, the very essence of life and love, is waiting for you to welcome it in.

Will you hear it? Will you receive it? The choice is yours, for the promise of transformation lies in your willingness to listen, to trust, to come, and to allow His love to work within you. The moment you open your heart, His voice will be there, steady and faithful, guiding you, renewing you, and drawing you ever closer to the divine embrace that has always awaited you. Do this and the answers you seek will be yours.

You are not waiting for him, He is waiting for you.

DEVOTIONAL PRAYER

A Prayer for Listening and Faith

Heavenly Father,
We come to You in this moment, just as we are—broken, searching, and yearning for the peace that only You can give. In the midst of life’s struggles, when the noise of the world grows deafening, we pause now to listen for Your gentle voice.

Lord, You are the Creator of all things, the One who spoke the universe into existence by the power of Your word. And yet, You still draw near to us, whispering truth to our souls, calling us into Your presence with love that knows no bounds. Teach us, O Lord, to quiet our hearts, to hear You in the stillness, and to trust You even when we do not understand.

Father, remind us that faith does not demand perfection, but simply the willingness to trust in Your promises. Like the mustard seed, let our faith, no matter how small, take root in the soil of Your Word. Water it with Your Spirit and give us the courage to believe that even mountains can be moved by the power of Your love.

Lord Jesus, You have the words of eternal life, and yet we confess how often we fail to truly listen. Forgive us for the times we’ve been distracted, chasing the fleeting promises of this world while neglecting the treasures You offer. Open our ears to hear Your voice and our hearts to obey Your call.

Holy Spirit, our Helper and Comforter, we invite You to teach us and remind us of all that Christ has spoken. Unveil the hidden treasures of Your Word, the mysteries of Your kingdom, and guide us into deeper communion with the Father. Help us to lean not on our own understanding but to trust in Your wisdom, which surpasses all human knowledge.

Lord, we long to live as people who listen—truly listen—with ears attuned to Your Spirit and hearts surrendered to Your will. May we, you new Israel, hear and obey Your command: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Help us to respond with lives that reflect Your love, Your truth, and Your glory.

Even when struggles threaten to overwhelm us, remind us that You are near. Let us rest in the truth that You are the Beloved who leaps over mountains to reach us, who speaks tenderly to our wandering hearts, and who never ceases to pursue us with unrelenting grace.

Today, we choose to begin where we are—not waiting for the perfect moment or the perfect version of ourselves, but coming to You in humility and trust. We yield to Your voice, to Your love, and to Your purposes. Take our fragile faith and strengthen it, O God, for You alone are our refuge, our strength, and our song.

May Your Word dwell richly within us. May it transform our minds, renew our spirits, and guide us into the abundant life You have promised. Let our lives echo the prayer of Simon Peter: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

In the name of Jesus, the Living Word, we pray.
Amen.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

• How does faith navigate life’s inherent struggles and challenges?
• What role does intentional listening play in deepening one’s faith?
• How can we recognise and receive God’s guidance in our lives?
• How do we receive the answers we are looking for?