Sensitive- able to receive impressions from external objects; responsive to external conditions or stimulation

We know that we can be sensitive physically. Unfortunately, I have sensitive skin. So whenever I stay in hotels with a certain friend, she always picks on me for having my stockpile of sensitive lotion, deodorant, shampoo, etc. We can also be sensitive emotionally. For example, at the end of 101 Dalmatians, when Anita says that they can keep ALL the dogs, I just cry. It’s silly, I know. But do we know how to be sensitive spiritually? This is something we hear often in church services, but do we really know what it means?

My sister and her husband went to the beach for a dinner picnic on their anniversary. By the time they got there it was dark and very foggy. They drove out to the sand and parked in front of what they thought was a large sand dune. Because of the fog, they could hardly see the water. But they did see a police officer parked nearby. Every so often he would turn his lights on and then turn them off again. Several other cars drove up to where the officer was, and then left. My sister and her husband were just bewildered. They could not imagine what was going on. They concluded that it must be some kind of illegal activity, but because they couldn’t see anything they decided to just go home. The next day my sister received a call from her husband at work; he told her to listen to the news. Much to her surprise she found out that there had been a whale beached on shore directly in front of where they had been parked. Due to fog and darkness, they completely missed what should have been an awesome sight. (Whales are not very common in Texas.)

As she was recounting this tale to me, I could not help but see how this is just like our relationship with God. Often times we are in a church service and amazing things are happening around us, but we are not sensitive to Him. We allow the fog or distractions of our life to keep us from seeing, feeling, or even hearing what we need from Him.

As a child I was always confused when people would say “open your spiritual ears.” I would sit and try really hard to do that. But as I got older I learned that most times God does not speak in a voice we can hear with our ears. It’s more like a strong impression or feeling on the inside. In order to get all that you need from each and every service you are in, you must train yourself to be sensitive to Him. It’s ok to cry! If someone makes fun of you, they are the ones with the problem. Not you!

“Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Read the rest of this story to find out how Mary allowed herself to be sensitive to Jesus in Luke 10:38-42.