We all need them.
You can't grow in faith and courage without them.
I call them hearing aids. But not the kind you might be thinking of.
What kind of hearing aids?
They can come in the form of podcasts, audible books, paper books, mp3 players, movies, CDs and radio waves, etc.
They are tools that produce words that help us 'hear' better.
"So then, faith comes to us by hearing the Good News. And the Good News comes by someone preaching it." Romans 10:17 New Life Version.
What do you hear?
All day long I hear things. Positive words. Negative words. They are inside me and also come from outside of me. Twenty minutes of listening to the news and I can instantly feel depressed, or elated. It depends on the message.
Over time, I'm learning how to tune into stations broadcasting words that bring faith and hope. I wish I could say that I don't need help with my thoughts and that my faith was always strong and steady. Truth is, I'm just not there yet, though I am improving. I am learning how to choose what I will listen to, think on and ponder. Both on the inside and from the outside.
Choosing good hearing aids.
It's easier to control my thoughts and feed my faith when I listen to uplifting things. So I choose them often. Music, podcasts, books...things that always leave me feeling like I CAN instead of I CAN'T. Left to my own devices, I will tend toward thinking I CAN'T.
So I'm not ashamed to say that I need hearing aids.
When my Mother was being fitted for a pair of high-tech hearing aids, I was intrigued by the testing they did on her to find out what frequencies she couldn't hear. Everyone is different. Some lose ability to hear bass frequencies first. Others lose the mid-range.
Many people put off getting a set of hearing aids until they can't function in society anymore and realize they need assistance. They miss out on so much because they won't admit they need help. But how many of us go through life emotionally or mentally deaf and wait until we are too far gone to get help for other kinds of hearing.
Everyone is different in the aid that they need. Some tend more toward negative thoughts when it comes to fears. Others have a deficit in the area of love or joy.
Do you have ideas about leading a group of people toward healing from past relational issues? Then listen to things that teach you about leadership and be inspired to lead others.
Do you need help getting your life organized? Listen to books or podcasts that teach you how to manage your time.
Do you need an overall better outlook on life? Listen to positive, upbeat music. Change the playlist until you find what feeds you!
If you would spend any amount of time with me, you would quickly learn that I am almost always listening to something. I invest plenty of time in being quiet too, but when I'm exercising or driving or even working in the yard, I will be listening and learning. It feeds my faith. It helps me be a better leader. It helps me dream and sustain those dreams.
It's my own tailored set of hearing aids.
Want to grow in your faith? You have to hear the right things!
Go get yourself some hearing aids.
