How Hearing Shapes Your Faith, Your Decisions, and Your Future
One of the greatest principles I live by in ministry, business, leadership, and everyday life is this:
Train yourself to listen for Words!!
When you begin living by this principle, it will amaze you how God works. Direction, opportunity, wisdom, and even breakthrough often come through words before they ever appear as visible results.
God often releases answers through something spoken first..
Jesus taught this principle clearly.
“Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”
Jesus was teaching a powerful Kingdom law:
How you hear determines what you receive.
If a person hears truth, values it, and applies it, more wisdom, more opportunity, and more understanding will come.
But if someone hears truth and ignores it, even the little insight they had begins to fade away.
That is why Jesus said, “Take heed how you hear.”
Train Yourself to Listen on Your Job
On your job, train yourself to listen carefully to words.
Many people miss opportunities because they are not paying attention to conversations happening around them.
Sometimes advancement is spoken about before it happens.
Sometimes wisdom is shared casually in a conversation.
Sometimes a mentor gives insight that can change the direction of your career.
Opportunities are often spoken before they are seen.
People who develop the habit of listening carefully often move further in life because they recognize when the right word is being spoken.
Train Yourself to Listen in Your Marriage
This principle also applies to relationships.
Many marriages struggle not because love is gone, but because people stop listening to each other.
Listening communicates respect.
Listening communicates care.
Listening helps you understand the heart of the person you love.
Sometimes healing in a relationship begins with simply hearing what the other person is trying to say.
Peter and the Power of One Word
One of the clearest examples of this principle in scripture is when Jesus met Peter.
Peter and the other fishermen had worked all night and caught nothing.
“But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.’”
Peter had experience.
Peter understood fishing.
Peter had already tried everything he knew to do.
But Jesus gave him one instruction:
“Launch out into the deep.”
When Peter obeyed that word, everything changed.
“And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.”
Jesus used Peter’s natural need to reveal a deeper calling.
Then Jesus said:
“Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”
One word from Jesus changed Peter’s entire future.
The Voices You Listen To Shape Your Life
The voices you listen to determine how far you will go in life.
Your beliefs, expectations, and decisions are shaped by the words you hear repeatedly.
That is why scripture teaches:
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Faith grows through hearing the right voice.
No Human Escapes Influence
Another important truth is this:
No human being escapes influence.
Every person has been shaped by voices.
Parents.
Teachers.
Culture.
Experiences.
Society.
It would actually be pride for someone to say, “I only listen to God and nothing else.”
If a person were that perfect, then we would all need to follow them instead of Jesus.
The truth is, every human being has been shaped to some degree by the systems of this world. Because sin entered the world, much of what we see around us is distorted and imperfect.
But Jesus came to restore life.
“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Jesus brings truth that corrects the distortions of the world.
A Powerful Real-Life Example
One of our church members, who is now in heaven, once shared a story with me from the time of the civil rights movement.
During that time, America was deeply segregated. There were separate bathrooms, schools, and facilities for white people and for Black Americans.
He told me that one day he was in the restroom that was designated for Black people. The building had an open ceiling area with no padding or covering between the rooms.
While he was there, he overheard several white businessmen talking in the other restroom. They were discussing an incredible investment opportunity that was becoming available.
He listened carefully to their conversation.
At that time many financial institutions would not allow Black people to participate in certain investments. But he kept checking and asking about it.
Eventually, the firm began allowing Black investors.
Because he had heard about the opportunity early, he invested his money.
Over the years that investment grew into a substantial amount of wealth.
How did that happen?
It happened through words.
He heard something that others ignored.
He received it.
And he applied it.
And just like Jesus taught, more was given to him.
Listen Carefully in Your Daily Life
This is why the principle is so important.
In ministry…
In business…
On your job…
In your marriage…
And in everyday life…
Train yourself to listen for words.
Because sometimes the direction you need is hidden in a conversation.
Sometimes wisdom comes through correction.
Sometimes opportunity is spoken about before it appears.
And sometimes one word from God can change the entire direction of your life.
Jesus said it best:
“Therefore take heed how you hear.”
Train yourself to listen.
Because when you learn how to hear, more will be given. 🙏