God is Listening

“Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy,
that it cannot hear.” (Isaiah 59:1)

Imagine spending an entire day with a tape recorder strapped to your back so everything you said could
be recorded. If you argued with your mom, it would be on the tape. If you lied, your lie would be recorded
on there, too. If you complained, those words would also become part of the tape.

If there really were a tape recorder with you all day, would you think twice before speaking?

Well, guess what! You are heard by something (Someone!) far more powerful than any tape recorder.
God hears everything you say – which can be a good thing, or a scary thing.

When you are upset or frightened, and you call out for help, God hears you. Psalm 34:17 says, “The
righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.” You can be sure that
God will always hear you and take care of you. Even above the noise of a crowd, or even when you are
alone, or even when you "call out" silently, your voice can be heard by God.

You can also be sure that God hears you when you sin. Every lie, every mean thing, every insult you say
is heard by the God of Heaven. God is omniscient – which means that God knows everything. That is how
great our God is! Nothing is hidden from Him.

What would it be like to spend a day with a tape recorder on your back? You may never know. (Let's
hope you never know!) But you can know for sure that you do have a God who is listening – so be careful
what you say!

God hears more than just our prayers – He hears everything.

My Response:
» Do I think carefully before I speak?
» How can I show with my words that I believe God is omniscient (knows everything) and that He also
hears everything?
 Truth In Real Life

CS Lewis

“Now is our chance to choose the right side. God is holding back to give us that chance.
It won't last forever. We must take it or leave it.”

Although he was an Irishman, Americans view C.S. Lewis as perhaps the most famous 20th-century
Christian. Born Clive Staples Lewis on November 29, 1898, he didn’t even believe in God for the first part
of his life. It was not until he was 33 years old that he responded to God’s grace and trusted Jesus Christ
as his Lord and Savior. He spent the rest of his life writing over 50 books that referred to and often tried to
explain the Christian faith.

His somewhat-allegorical series of children’s books, The Chronicles of Narnia, are among his most
famous works, and are still so popular today that some of them have been made into movies. Millions of
copies of his books are still sold every year.

C.S. Lewis – or “Jack” as he preferred to be called – was born in Belfast, Ireland. He did not have an easy
life. His mother died of cancer when he was 10 years old, and his father – unable to take care of him –
placed him in a boarding school. The school was strict and the teachers were unkind. Lewis hated it. God
got a hold of his heart, though, and amazingly, it was at this boarding school that he first read the Bible
and prayed.

One of Lewis’s favorite topics to talk about, both before and after his salvation, was the topic of JOY. His
autobiography (a book of memoirs he wrote about his own life) is titled Surprised by Joy. In this book, he
tells his story of how he came to believe that God really is the God of the Bible, and shares some of his
fascination with short-term, earthly joys that point people ultimately to the solid, everlasting, heavenly joy
that is found only in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He once wrote, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.”

Ironically, Lewis also ended up marrying a woman named Joy. He is remembered all over the world as
the writer who inspired people of all ages from all generations. He died on November 22, 1963 – the
same day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

We often think of our own joy, but what brings God joy? What opportunities and gifts of grace has God
been giving to you so that you might understand the Gospel better and live for the things of heaven? Are
you responding rightly to the grace that God has shown you?

Matthew 13:44 – “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and
hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
 Description of God

God
Revelation 21:7 "He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and
he shall be my son."
 

Question & Answer

Does God give up on those whom He loves?

No, the Lord is patient and longsuffering. Rom 2:4 -- Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and
forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.
 

BIG Christian Word

Doctrine – (DOK-trin)

A "doctrine" is something that is taught about a particular topic. It is a teaching. Some examples of Bible
doctrines are the teachings of God's perfect attributes; the Trinity; Creationism; Scripture's inspiration;
humankind's sinfulness; and Jesus Christ's ability to be the perfect Prophet, Priest, and King. Every
biblical doctrine is important because God's Word is how He teaches us about Himself – Who He is, what
He is doing, and what He expects of us. 2 Timothy 2:15 – "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."