Morning by Morning: Learning to Hear God
Isaiah 50:4 says, “The Lord God has given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to hear as the learned” (NKJV).
This verse paints a clear picture: before we can speak well to others, we must first learn to listen to God. Notice the order—God awakens the ear before He uses the tongue. A healthy relationship with Him begins in quiet attentiveness. It’s not just about gaining knowledge, but about being shaped daily by His voice. “Morning by morning” suggests consistency. This isn’t a one-time moment of inspiration; it’s a steady, growing connection where God teaches us how to think, respond, and care.
When that kind of relationship is real, it inevitably spills into how we treat people. The verse says God teaches us to speak “a word in season to him who is weary.” That means our words can become timely, gentle, and helpful instead of careless or reactive. Think about how often people around you are carrying something heavy—stress, discouragement, grief. A rushed or self-centered response can make it worse. But when you’ve been listening to God, you’re far more likely to respond with patience, wisdom, and compassion.
You can see this principle reinforced in Proverbs 15:23: “A word spoken in due season, how good it is!” And in Colossians 4:6: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” These aren’t just communication tips—they’re the result of a life rooted in God. You don’t manufacture that kind of speech on the spot; it grows out of what you’ve been absorbing.
In real life, this might look like pausing before responding in a tense conversation, asking God for wisdom instead of reacting emotionally. It might mean encouraging a coworker at just the right moment, or choosing silence when words would only inflame a situation. It could even be as simple as sending a message or making a call because you feel prompted to check on someone—and finding out they truly needed it.
Here’s the honest part: if we’re not regularly listening to God, our default is to speak from our own impatience, pride, or distraction. That’s where relationships break down. But when we let Him “awaken our ear” daily, He reshapes what comes out of our mouths.
So the challenge is straightforward: are you giving God space to speak to you before you speak to others? Even a few intentional minutes each morning can start to change the tone of your entire day—and the way people experience you.
More on: Lesson 5 How to Study The Bible