This is Part 3 of a 10-part series, How to Renew Your Mind: Word of God.
Nobody drifts into a renewed mind. It’s built on what goes in, and the most important thing that can go in is the Word of God. Today we look at hearing, because Scripture ties faith, a healthy heart and a changed life to what we listen to and how we listen.
Faith Comes by Hearing
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Notice that it doesn’t say faith comes by wanting it or by trying to feel it. Faith comes by hearing, and what’s heard has to be the Word. If your faith feels small, check what you’ve been feeding it. Fear grows on bad news, and faith grows on the Word.
Attend to His Words
Solomon gave his son the same instruction. My son, attend to my words, incline thine ear unto my sayings (Proverbs 4:20). He then says what the Word does for those who keep it close: For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh (Proverbs 4:22). To attend means to give your focus, and to incline the ear means to lean in. God’s Word isn’t background noise.
How You Hear Matters
Jesus warned about two things. Take heed therefore how ye hear (Luke 8:18). And also: Take heed what ye hear (Mark 4:24). Both count. You can hear the right thing the wrong way, half distracted and unwilling to change. You can also hear the wrong thing for hours and wonder why your mind feels heavy.
Learn From the Bereans
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:11). Two habits made them noble. They received the Word with readiness, and they searched it daily. That means a ready heart and a daily habit, not once a week and not only on Sundays.
Make Room to Hear
Mary of Bethany chose to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His word (Luke 10:39). Martha was busy with good things, yet Jesus said Mary had chosen the good part (Luke 10:42). Busyness will always compete for your ear. Here are practical ways to give the Word first place:
- Play the audio Bible while you commute, cook or walk.
- Read one chapter aloud each morning, because hearing your own voice read Scripture counts as hearing.
- Sit under teaching every week. Our Bible Study on Sundays is open in person and online.
- Replace one hour of scrolling with one hour in the Word.
Your Step Today
Pick a time and a place you’ll protect every day for the next seven days. Ten minutes is enough to start. Hear one passage, say what it means in your own words, and write down one thing you’ll do because of it.
A Prayer for Today
Father, give me ears that lean in. Teach me to hear Your Word with readiness and to guard what I let into my mind. Let faith grow in me as I listen, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Part 4 comes tomorrow: Meditating on the Word Day and Night. Come back and keep going, and share this with someone who needs it.