Listen

Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was a leader of Israel at that time. She would sit under Deborah’s palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the Ephraim highlands, and the Israelites would come to her to settle disputes. She sent word to Barak, Abinoam’s son, from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Hasn’t the Lord, Israel’s God, issued you a command? ‘Go and assemble at Mount Tabor, taking ten thousand men from the people of Naphtali and Zebulun with you.’”

Barak replied to her, “If you’ll go with me, I’ll go; but if not, I won’t go.”

Deborah answered, “I’ll definitely go with you. However, the path you’re taking won’t bring honor to you, because the Lord will hand over Sisera to a woman.” Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh.

Judges 4:4-6, 8-9

Think

There’s a phrase we’ve all said at one time or another: “I know.” Sometimes we say it because we really do know what to do. Other times we say it because we don’t want someone to tell us we’re wrong. Wisdom requires learning to listen. Deborah was someone others turned to for guidance. Her story reminds us that we don’t have to figure everything out on our own. God can use other people to help us see more clearly and make better decisions.

Listening doesn’t mean accepting everything someone tells us. It means having the humility to recognize that we may still have something to learn. The people who love us may tell us things we don’t want to hear. A piece of advice may make us uncomfortable, but it can also help us avoid a mistake. Wisdom doesn’t just ask, “What do I want to do?” It also asks, “Who do I need to listen to?”

Christian O. Estrada Cora

Question to Ponder:

Is there anyone I need to listen to more carefully right now?

Pray

God, grant me the humility to listen when I need guidance. Help me to recognize the people who can bring wisdom into my life and to receive their words with an open heart. Amen.

Go

Here’s the challenge for the day: Choose one thing you know you need to do and do it. Not tomorrow. Not when you have more time. Do it today. Put wisdom into practice with a specific decision.