"But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and covered their ears."
— Zechariah 7:11 (NIV)
The most dangerous form of deafness isn't physical. It's spiritual.
Throughout Scripture, God speaks—through prophets, through His Word, through the Holy Spirit. But over and over, people cover their ears. They hear His voice but refuse to respond. They hear the truth but choose rebellion. They hear the warning but prefer their own way.
Refusing to hear God is not a passive act. It's deliberate disobedience.
The Ear Is the Door
The first step away from God is not always a bold act of sin—it often begins with the simple act of tuning Him out. You hear His Word preached, but your heart stays cold. You read the Bible, but don't receive it. You feel conviction, but you silence it.
When you refuse to hear God's voice, you harden your heart to His truth. And over time, it becomes harder and harder to hear Him at all.
"Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."
— Hebrews 3:7–8
Hearing God is not about volume—it's about posture. Are your ears open to correction? To guidance? To truth even when it's uncomfortable?
Modern Deafness
Today, the refusal to hear God's Word can look subtle. It's not always outright rebellion. Sometimes it's distraction. Sometimes it's selective hearing.
You scroll past Scripture but pause for gossip.
You skip sermons that convict but binge entertainment that corrupts.
You listen to worship but ignore God's call to obedience.
You quote verses that promise blessing but reject the ones that demand surrender.
The more we ignore God's Word, the quieter His voice becomes in our lives. Not because He stops speaking—but because we stop listening.
The Consequences of a Closed Ear
When you turn away from God's Word, you begin to drift. And the farther you drift, the easier it becomes to justify sin. Eventually:
Conviction is replaced by comfort.
Truth is replaced by personal opinion.
The fear of the Lord is replaced by the love of self.
A closed ear leads to a closed heart. And a closed heart leads to spiritual blindness.
How to Reopen Your Ears to God
1. Humble Yourself Before the Word
Approach Scripture with a teachable heart, not a defensive one. Let the Word cut, correct, and cleanse you.
(Isaiah 66:2 – "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.")
2. Invite the Holy Spirit to Speak
Pray before you read. Ask God to open your ears, soften your heart, and illuminate His truth.
(John 16:13 – "When He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.")
3. Obey Quickly
Delayed obedience is disobedience. As soon as you hear His voice, respond. Act on it.
(James 1:22 – "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.")
4. Create Space for Listening
Silence the noise. Turn off distractions. Spend time in quiet where God's voice can be heard more clearly.
(Psalm 46:10 – "Be still, and know that I am God.")
5. Don't Pick and Choose Scripture
Receive the whole counsel of God—not just the verses that comfort, but also the ones that confront.
(2 Timothy 3:16 – "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.")
Prayer of Surrender
"Father, I confess that I have ignored Your voice. I've filled my ears with other sounds, and my heart has grown dull to Your Word. Forgive me for refusing correction and resisting Your truth. Open my ears again. Teach me to delight in Your voice and obey it quickly. Let me hear You clearly—and follow You faithfully. In Jesus' name, Amen."