Happy new ear

While getting ready for church this past Sunday, the Baptist Examiner heard on the news that January 25th was slated to be the most depressing day of the year.

The reason given was that by Monday of the final week of January each year, the glow of expectancy has dulled on the face of all those sparkling new year's resolutions.

Dismal realization has set in that the goals you have set for yourself may be staggeringly unrealistic -- or at the very least, much more difficult to attain than you had imagined.

"Blue Monday" this year fell on January 25th.

Before you buy into that, it's time to listen with new ears.

Listen!

Some form of that action verb, sometimes merely implied but its meaning nevertheless clear, went forth across hundreds of pulpits in Columbia on Sunday, January 24, 2010 -- the day before "Blue Monday" -- into thousands of ears.

Ears perhaps weary at the mid-winter point, when disillusionment begins to congeal in the heart and mind of the once-hopeful.

Be that as it may ... listen:

But as it is written, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

God's promises to the born-again believer are a reality more solid and everlasting than substandard checkbook balances or relationship woes or discouraging numbers on a bathroom scale.

Has your faith grown shorter than these short winter days? Have you listened to the enemy rather than to the still, small voice? (I Kings 19:12)

Listen.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Be faithful to a Bible-believing, Bible-preaching church … and while you are there, really listen.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

God is listening too! If you love Him and have a sincere desire to glorify Him, He hears your prayers.

FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE OVER THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ARE OPEN UNTO THEIR PRAYERS: BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THEM THAT DO EVIL. (1 Peter 3:12)

So, listen! And having listened … serve God and your fellow man.

Or rather, serve God by serving your fellow man.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (James 1:22)

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (Philippians 4:9)

Result? All your days will be more delightful and less depressing.

Happy New Ear!

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All Scripture quoted and referenced in this article is from the King James Bible.

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