An Ear To Hear
Daily Rays of Hope #77
An Inspirational Message Based on Mark 4:9 (NIV)
“Then Jesus said, ‘Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.’” — Mark 4:9 (NIV)
When Jesus speaks the words in Mark 4:9, He is not referring to the physical ability to hear with our ears. Instead, He is pointing to something deeper—something spiritual. To “have ears to hear” means to be spiritually attuned to the voice of God. It means we don’t just hear the Word, but we receive it, understand it, and allow it to transform us from the inside out.
Romans 10:17 tells us, “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” This kind of hearing isn’t passive; it’s an active and intimate response to the Word of God. It is the type of hearing that builds faith and deepens trust. The ear of faith hears what the natural ear may miss, because it is tuned in to God’s frequency—not the world’s noise.
To truly “hear” God, we must know His voice. Jesus said in John 10:27, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” This is the heart of relationship. Hearing God is the result of walking with Him, trusting Him, and surrendering our hearts to His guidance. When we spend time in the Word, in prayer, and in stillness, our ears become trained to recognize His voice—even in the middle of life’s storms.
So often, we seek direction, clarity, or breakthrough, yet our ears remain closed to the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit. We expect God to shout, but many times, He speaks in a still, small voice—just as He did with Elijah in 1 Kings 19:12. If our hearts are cluttered with distractions, fear, or unbelief, we risk missing what He’s trying to say. But when we posture our hearts in humility and expectation, we position ourselves to hear clearly.
Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Hearing God requires trust. It requires letting go of what we think we know and leaning into His truth. The more we follow His lead, the more attuned our spiritual ears become. Over time, discerning His voice becomes second nature—not because we’ve mastered a formula, but because we’ve developed relationship.
There is a difference between listening and hearing. Listening may involve sound waves hitting our eardrums, but hearing—true hearing—means responding. James 1:22 calls us to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” If we claim to hear but fail to obey, we have not truly heard at all.
This spiritual hearing leads to life, peace, and divine alignment. Jesus often repeated, “Whoever has ears, let them hear,” because He understood that not everyone who listens is ready to receive. It takes a softened heart, a surrendered will, and a consistent walk with God to develop ears that hear from heaven.
Three Practical Ways to Seek the Will of God Daily and Walk Out Mark 4:9:
Start Each Day with Quiet Time to Hear God’s Voice
Before the world demands your attention, give God your first focus. Spend 10–15 minutes in silence after prayer and Bible reading. Ask God, “What do You want me to hear today?” Keep a journal ready to write down anything that stirs your spirit.Test What You Hear Against Scripture
God’s voice will never contradict His Word. When you sense the Lord speaking, go to the Bible and seek confirmation. Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the Word of God is “alive and active… discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The more Scripture you know, the more clearly you’ll recognize God’s voice.Practice Immediate Obedience to God’s Promptings
When you sense God speaking—whether through Scripture, a sermon, a still small voice, or a godly friend—act. Don’t delay. The more you obey, the more sensitive your spiritual hearing becomes. Obedience is like tuning the dial on a radio: the more in tune you are, the clearer the signal.
Final Encouragement:
Hearing God isn’t reserved for the spiritually elite—it’s the inheritance of every believer. Jesus is still speaking. The question is, are we listening with ears to truly hear? When you open your heart, quiet your mind, and tune your spirit to His voice, you’ll discover that God is not silent. He is faithful to lead, to guide, and to speak—if we’ll only listen with ears that hear.