Did You Hear?

 We have lots of ways to hear information about what's happening around us. There's email, text, letters, phone calls, face to face interactions, social media, word of mouth, and the Internet, just to name a few 😊. Sometimes, what we hear is true and reliable, while other times it is questionable and may not be true. We have to check the sources because some sources are more reliable than others. Information that has gone through several people may not be correct by the time it reaches you. That's why it's always important to check the source the minute someone says, "Let me tell you what I heard." I have used this phrase before, so this message is checking me too! Not only do we need to check the source, but we also need to check what we're listening to and why we're listening to it. Is what we're hearing going to help or tear down? Is what we're hearing going to add value or take from it? Is it positive or negative? Is it encouraging or discouraging? Every conversation, song and piece of information is not for us to hear.  Not only do we need to check the source and what and why of what we're hearing, but we need to think about what we're going to do with what we hear. I know we hear a lot of things throughout our day. Some things need a response, and some things don't need a response. This is something I have learned as I have grown in my faith. After hearing anything, we should pray (I Thessalonians 5:17). Sometimes, that's it 💜. It doesn't need to be posted on social media or told to someone else. Then, there are the times it does need to be told to the right source. It does need to be applied to our daily lives. It does make us more aware. Sometimes, what we hear does need a response 😊. I want to share about two different Bible accounts where people heard something, but had two totally different responses. The first Bible account is in Daniel found in the Old Testament. In Daniel 6, we see Daniel is an administrator (leader) in Babylon. Daniel served with excellence and the people working alongside him did not like it and wanted to find him doing something wrong. Yes, you heard right- the very people working close to him wanted to see him fall. Isn't that a shame?! It's happening in today's time too! That's a whole other Word for another day. They could not catch him doing wrong, so they decided to persuade King Darius to make a rule that anyone who didn't pray to King Darius in the next 30 days would be thrown in a lion's den. Daniel heard about it, but kept on praying to his God three times a day as usual (Daniel 6:10). Of course, his coworkers heard about it, told the King, and Daniel was thrown into the lion's den. God protected Daniel though (Daniel 6:21-23) 💜!! Those working alongside Daniel wanted hurt to come to him based on what they heard, but God had the final say. Now in Acts 16 (New Testament), we see a different response to what's heard. Paul and Silas were in prison for casting out an evil spirit in a young lady. Paul and Silas were praying and singing and the other prisoners heard them. As a result, chains were loosed and doors flew open (Acts 16:25-26)! As a result of what they heard, the jailor and his family were saved and baptized. Their lives were changed forever 😊!! Two different accounts. Two different responses to what they heard. Today, it's up to us how we respond to what we hear. Ask questions as needed. Start a new habit. Make a better choice. Get more fresh air. Use social media less. Laugh out loud. Change your mindset. Get a new perspective. Give thanks. Be kind. Be still. Talk it out. Exercise. Be cautious and move accordingly. Speak God's Word over the situation. Pray always. Did you hear? God is still protecting us today! Did you hear? God is still changing lives today 💜!! May God bless you each of you!!