“He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.” – Isaiah 50:4

The prophet Isaiah describes his relationship to God as a relationship that has two-way communication. Have you ever felt that your communication with God was only one way – you to Him only?

God purposely reveals His will, He wants to teach us.  The book of Isaiah tells us, “The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary…. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back” (Is. 50:4-5).

The keys to Isaiah’s relationship with God aligned with four important principles:

  1. He had an instructed tongue. Isaiah had given over rule of his life completely to God’s purposes.
  2. He knew the word of the Lord, which allowed him to sustain and encourage others.
  3. He took time to listen.
  4. He did not flee from the tough assignments. He didn’t shrink back.

In order to listen to God we must include the same principles. Knowing and spending time studying God’s Word allows the Holy Spirit to bring to mind His instructions for what He wants for us.  It’s easy for us to become busy with our daily lives. Taking us away from time with God’s word and prayer is a goal of Satan.  The further he can keep us from communing with God the more likely we are to be separated from Him.  Distance from God can make us susceptible to putting ourselves first in our lives, and to potential apostacy. 

I urge you to make time to be in the Word.  Get out of bed just a little earlier.  Waken morning by morning being taught by the Word.  I like the mantra of “I feed my soul with the Word before I feed my belly.”