As I looked out my window I saw two birds foraging in the morning grass. One was a starling, black feathers gleaming in the sunlight. The other was a robin, with a chest round and red like an apple. The starling moved at a steady pace, walking and pecking at the ground, constantly moving. The robin, however, would take a few steps, and then stop. His head would tilt and cock, intently listening, and then he would peck the ground quickly. He would take a few more steps, stop, wait, listen, and peck. I watched for a few minutes at the two birds and their completely different methods. There didn’t seem to be much rhyme or reason in the starling’s walk, but there was intentionally and mindfulness to the robin. Jesus in Matthew 13:9 tells the people, “He who has ears let him hear.” He tells us in John 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

The word “hear” is used over 360 times in the Bible. How often do we stop to hear God? I don’t mean a quick prayer as you multitask, commuting in your car or running on a treadmill. How often do you stop whatever you are doing, and take time to be alone and listen with every fiber of your being, soul and spirit for God’s voice? How often do we obey His command to be still and know He is God? The psalmist writes in Psalm 40:6, “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.” How can we delight God if we don’t take time to listen so we know Him and know what delights Him? How can His word be at home in our hearts if we do not hear it?

I want my relationship with God to emulate that robin. I want to spend my first morning moments with Him. To begin by stopping to be wholly in the light of the Son, then listen silently without motion or distraction until I hear His voice, His directives, followed by immediate, unwavering obedience. Only then will I take the next few steps as He has led. Only then… until it is time for me to fly away to find rest nestled in Him.