When I speak you listen

Oh my oh my  all the things I'm learning (not) to do from having children. A simple phrase that sounds harmless from this 34 year old mouth, grieves my heart when its repeated out of my two year old mouth! (Yikes) She is a little parrot!

One of my favorite conversations with her so far  though has gone like this:
Ella: Jesus loves Sis, Dadda, and Momma!
Me: He does! and he loves you Ella!
Ella: Yah...but I'm a little bit sad at him.
Me: You're sad at Jesus?? Why??
Ella: Because he wants my heart, and I don't want to give it to him.
Me: .........................speechless

Hahah Isn't that story of most all our lives though!? He wants my heart but I don't want to give it to him...wow.
One thing I've found myself repeating over and over as we are in this year of the "twos" is "When I speak you listen!" If you are in this house, that will save you a lot of heartache and is attached with many less forms of consequence if you would just listen when I say to do something.

*stops dead in her tracks*
Well...isn't that EXACTLY what the Lord says to us. "Janna, if you would just LISTEN when I SPEAK or do what I say when I say to do it...how much better would you be?" Wow. Simple truths.

You see, I don't say "when I speak you listen" to Ella because I'm trying to Lord over her, or control her, or any other form of negative motivation....it is to HELP her be a better person. To shape her into a woman that fears & loves God. To make her into a trustworthy person who is making an impact for the Kingdom. THAT is why I say, "When I speak you listen."
Funny how that looks when I turn that inward. My oh my how many times has my Jesus had  to say, "Janna, When I speak, you listen! If you do, you will be so much better off, I promise you, this is for your own good...." And I wish I could say every time I made the right choice, but so often it is followed with my own way & then a consequence.
Boy how different would we be, if when He spoke we Listened??

A friend of mine...*ahem Crystal* started reading this book, "He Speaks to Me" By Priscilla Shirer. I was looking for a book to read & since she had suggested it I thought I would check it out. I am only on the 1st chapter but what a great first chapter! :)

She is using the example of Samuel and how as a boy he heard from God. She said something that struck something in me; she said,

"Samuel had positioned himself to acquire knowledge and wisdom, and his spiritual ears were open to hear God's voice. Because he reverence God, he was also prepared to obey God's word when it came."

First thing was, he positioned himself to acquire knowledge and wisdom. Isn't that the truth, we have to put ourselves in a position to acquire knowledge & wisdom. To place ourselves in environments where we CAN grow, and put ourselves around people who help us position ourselves to hear from God.
Second was, he was PREPARED to OBEY. Prepared to obey. OH wow. Can I get an amen. Perhaps all the times I've fussed & fought my Lord when he says "when I speak you listen" was because I didn't  PREPARE myself to OBEY. It takes discipline to obey, it takes laying down that very large "self monster" that is in all of us, and being WILLING to obey. I just loved that. What a fresh perspective!

So oh Lord, I pray this is a new step for me. When I hear your ever sweet loving words of "When I speak you listen" I pray my heart is ready and prepared to obey! Mold me, shape me, make me more and more like you!