Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today – the secrets and mysteries of the spiritual realm and heard by a listening heart, not an inquiring mind. And I have been given this heart. So I lack nothing to understand the secrets and mysteries of God, other than my choice to exercise my listening heart.
Luke 8:9-10,18 TPT
[9] Later his disciples came to Jesus and asked him privately what deeper meaning was found in this parable. [10] He said, “You have been given a teachable heart to perceive the secret, hidden mysteries of God’s kingdom realm. But to those who don’t have a listening heart, my words are merely stories. Even though they have eyes, they are blind to the true meaning of what I say, and even though they listen, they won’t receive full revelation. [18] So pay careful attention to your hearts as you hear my teaching, for to those who have open hearts, even more revelation will be given to them until it overflows. And for those who do not listen with open hearts, what little light they imagine to have will be taken away.”
Observation
We are all innately spiritual. Science is proving there is a spiritual part of our brain. They are confirming what Jesus said, “You have been given a teachable heart to perceive the secret, hidden mysteries of God’s kingdom realm.” But with all we have been given the choice to activate, to live from it, is always mine. The things of Jesus are mere stories if I do not actively listen with my “teachable heart.”
For too long we have made the things of God an intellectual pursuit with the part of our mind that deals with facts, our logical mind. And we have heard great stories, but have not become transformed. We have spoken logic and missed beauty. We listen, and we leave, with another gathered set of information that is not integrated into our lives. The hidden things, the mysteries and secrets of the spiritual realm are received, perceived, and penetrate me when heard in my teachable heart. It’s not sense-making, but truth that is heard experientially, intimately that does not submit to logic for acceptance for it is received directly from the one who is truth into my teachable heart, the part of my brain that is wired for spiritual discernment.
You don’t receive full revelation unless you have a “listening heart.” “So pay careful attention to your hearts.” Open hearts receive greater and more revelation. But what is the practice of being attentive to my listening heart? The listening heart does not collect information. It sits at the table of intimacy and allows the person of truth to bring awareness of truth at a level beyond the comprehension of knowledge. It sits open for personal exploration that truth may bring transformation. The listening heart knows it is fully accepted and passionately invited to the table of feasting with God where the listening heart captures beauty and love and peace and joy, and is taught by these in the ways of the kingdom. When you pay careful attention to your heart you come often to this feasting place of intimacy and feast on personally received revelation. It’s participating in revelation not comprehending information. Church-going people have heard enough stories of truth to last a lifetime, but have they heard them with a listening heart?
Application
I will pay careful attention to my heart. I will not be a gatherer of information but an intimate, regular attendee at the feast of revelation. I will give time, rhythm, and attention to my listening heart. I will live contemplatively and intimate with truth. I will realise and live in the truth that I “have been given a teachable heart to perceive the secret, hidden mysteries of God,” I will exercise this gift.
Response
Thank you that you are not intellectually received or perceived, I would miss so much of your beauty if this were your mode of operation. Thank you that you have given me all I need to perceive your beauty, thank you that it is the listening heart, intimate personal heart encounters of you, that is the place of receiving you. Thank you that you invite me, and made me, to live listening to your mysteries and secrets in the intimacy of your presence. What a beautiful way to live.
Meditation
Meditate – you have been given a teachable heart to perceive the secret, hidden mysteries of God.
Consider:
How much do you receive intellectually and never take to the intimate place of contemplation?
Do you have a rhythm of the listening heart?
JOURNEY DEEPER
