Ears to Hear, Feet to Follow
Because God’s whisper wasn’t meant for your journal—it was meant for your obedience.
Selective Hearing, Holy Edition
Let’s talk about hearing God—because honestly, it sounds very spiritual and holy and Instagram-worthy, right?
We light a candle, sip coffee from our “Blessed & Caffeinated” mug, and whisper, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening,” like we’re about to get divine directions to our destiny.
But let’s be honest…
A lot of us don’t actually have a hearing problem.
We have a doing problem.
We absolutely hear God—especially when He’s saying things like “I love you,” “You’re chosen,” and “I have good plans for your life.”
But the second He says,
“Forgive them.”
“Tell the truth.”
“Stop watching that.”
“Get uncomfortable and obey anyway…”
our spiritual Wi-Fi mysteriously cuts out.
“Sorry, Lord, You’re breaking up—did You say ‘bless them’ or ‘block them’? Because I’m hearing ‘block them.’”
This is where that Hebrew word from this week—Shama—exposes us all a little bit.
It doesn’t just mean to hear like we’re passively absorbing sound in a prayer bubble.
It means to listen and obey. To receive and respond.
To not just nod at God’s words, but to move your feet and align your actions like you meant it.
Because God’s not recruiting a fan club.
He’s raising up followers.
And followers don’t just have ears—they’ve got shoes.
So if we’re gonna Shama, we can’t just admire the Word.
We’ve got to walk it out—even when it costs us our comfort, our pride, or our perfectly curated “unbothered” aesthetic.
Biblical Case Study: Elijah Heard the Whisper—and Then Moved
Elijah knew drama. He just came off a Mount Carmel moment where he called down fire from heaven, roasted 850 false prophets, and won the world’s most extra showdown in Old Testament history.
But by the very next chapter?
Elijah’s in a cave, burned out, asking God to take him out of the game.
(Same, Elijah. Same.)
God doesn’t scold him. He doesn’t shame him. He just… shows up.
Not in the wind.
Not in the earthquake.
Not in the fire.
“And after the fire, there was a voice—a soft whisper.” (1 Kings 19:12)
Elijah heard the whisper.
But here’s the part we often miss:
He didn’t stay in the cave journaling about how meaningful the whisper was.
He didn’t write a scroll titled “Still, Small Thoughts from the Lord.”
He got up and went where God told him.
That’s Shama in motion.
He was exhausted. He was discouraged.
But the whisper wasn’t the end of the encounter.
It was the beginning of obedience.
Because God’s voice isn’t just for comfort.
It’s for commissioning.
The question isn’t “Did you hear Him?”
It’s “What are you doing with what you heard?”
Scripture Tie-In: Shama Is a Two-Part Deal
Let’s bring it back to Shama—the Hebrew word that doesn’t just mean “hear” like background noise. It means hear and do. Listen and act.
“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”
—Luke 11:28 (ESV)
Jesus didn’t say, “Blessed are those who take great sermon notes.”
He didn’t say, “Blessed are those who vibe with the message.”
He said, Blessed are the doers.
The blessing isn’t in the hearing—it’s in the heeding.
We don’t walk in power because we know Scripture.
We walk in power when we obey Scripture.
Shama invites us to trade spiritual consumption for holy movement.
To stop nodding and start stepping.
To stop saying “Amen” and start saying, “Okay, Lord. Let’s go.”
Reflection: So… What Did God Tell You That You Haven’t Done Yet?
Let’s make this personal (because God usually does):
What has God asked of you lately that you’ve delayed, dodged, or “still praying about”?
Is there a whisper you’ve heard but haven’t moved on because it wasn’t loud enough to scare you or convenient enough to impress others?
Elijah didn’t move when the earthquake hit.
He didn’t respond to the drama.
He waited for the whisper—and then he walked.
The spiritual grown-ups don’t always look flashy.
Sometimes they’re just the people who listen quietly… and go anyway.
If you’ve been waiting for a louder confirmation, here it is:
Obey the whisper. That’s where the blessing is.
Prayer: Whisper and Move Me, Lord
Lord,
I’ve heard You more than I care to admit.
In the chaos, in the quiet, in that whisper I tried to pretend was my own imagination.
You’ve spoken.
Now help me move.
Give me the courage to act on the whisper.
To stop waiting for confirmation that’s already come and obey what You’ve already said.
I don’t want to just hear You—I want to follow You.
So rip up my spiritual excuses.
Cancel my delays.
And reroute my feet to the path You already lit up.
Let me walk out what I’ve heard
so that heaven is honored, hell is shaken,
and my life says “yes” before I even finish saying “amen.”
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Battle Cry:
“I heard the whisper. I don’t need drama—I need direction.
I move when God speaks. I don’t just hear—I Shama.”