Filtered.

Scripture often admonishes us to be careful how we hear.  In Luke 8:18, Jesus Himself tells his disciples to  "...take care how you listen;" 

My husband has taken a lot of statements in his career as a police officer.  People who are talking about the same thing, don't always say the same things. We sometimes hear what we expect, filtering thru emotion. You may have seen a very angry and dangerous man, while I may have seen a frustrated but harmless man begging for help thru his actions if not his words. 

Now Jesus was teaching a very different and particular lesson, and I have studied it more than once, but the words 'be careful how you hear' have stuck way down deep within me.

Do I filter my hearing thru faith or fear?  What I hear then begins to be what I think.  I must be aware of HOW I hear, that I am hearing accurately. 

We have further instruction in scripture about our thinking. "...whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things." (Phillipians 4:8 NASB)

When I filter my thinking thru this verse, I usually get stalled on that first word.  Is it true, Connie?  So very often, the enemy of my soul has tainted the truth with a twisted lie. 

During conversations with Morgan these past couple weeks, I have seen her struggling as she filters what she hears.  I have not lectured, or given lots of advice.  My health has taken me out of the close circle we usually inhabit.  (...wonder if the Lord needed to get me out of the way!!??) 

But Jesus said He would never leave or forsake..."He Himself has said, "I WILL NEVER DESERT YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU,  so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID." (Hebrews 13:6-7 KJV)

Pray for her as they continue thru this first year of school with Jett, that she will filter every word she hears thru her faith in Jesus, not any fear or twisted lie from our enemy.  Our God is as able now as He was two years ago.  He has Jett in the palm of His Hand.  Pray that she will make it her purpose to search for what is true, thinking on only what is right, pure, lovely, good, and excellent, dwelling on those things, never on what the enemy attempts to deceive her with.

We pray blessings on all educators who make impacts on our childrens lives, and we pray an extra measure of God's grace on those dealing with children who are a bit more difficult than others. 

I fear Jesus may have thought that about me a few times.  A little more difficult than others.