Who Has Your Ear and Your Heart?

Screens now dominate our lives on our desks, in our pockets, hanging in our living rooms. They ride with us in cars and planes, invade our bedrooms and kitchens, and follow us into every corner of our routines. We can hardly escape the glow.

But beyond the images dancing across our devices, there is something deeper something more subtle, more penetrating, and far more powerful. Behind every screen is a voice. A message. A story. And the question every Christian must ask in this visually saturated age is this. Who really has your ear?

The Power of the Ear

Among the senses, hearing is profoundly spiritual. It develops early in the womb, and many believe it is the final sense to remain before death. God made us this way as creatures who live by hearing.

From the first words spoken at creation “Let there be light” to the proclamation of the gospel that brings about new birth (James 1:18), hearing has always been at the center of how God reveals Himself. Faith itself comes by hearing (Romans 10:17). The Spirit is given not through works but by “hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:2, 5).

Yet today, it’s not just the voice of God trying to speak to us. Countless others clamor for our attention, streaming through earbuds, notifications, podcast apps, audiobooks, TV series, TikTok loops, and social feeds. Every voice we allow into our ears is shaping our thoughts, habits, fears, convictions our very selves.

Words Shape Worlds

In the garden of Eden, Satan didn’t show Eve a flashy image. He didn’t distract her with a spectacular vision. He spoke. “Did God really say?” (Genesis 3:1). He twisted the word of God with subtle suggestions and embedded lies. The first attack against humanity was an attack on what we hear.

This should send a warning into our age of relentless media. Voices still shape destinies. And the voices we let in are not neutral.

Everyday Catechism

The frightening truth is that every day, every podcast, every show, every YouTube channel, every tweet is catechizing us. Whether we like it or not, we are all being formed. The question is: formed by whom?

A recent survey from Gallup revealed that weekly church attendance in America has fallen below 50% for the first time in decades. At the same time, average screen time continues to climb, with the average adult now spending over 7 hours per day in front of screens. Even more concerning, a 2023 Barna study found that Gen Z Christians are more likely to quote influencers, celebrities, and TikTok personalities than Scripture when discussing moral issues.

We are not merely entertained. We are being educated. Shaped. Changed.

Hospitality to Demons?

Ephesians 2:2 warns of those who follow “the course of this world,” under the influence of “the prince of the power of the air.” That influence still flows now through Bluetooth and broadband. Romans 12:2 commands us not to conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. But what happens when the world has more access to our minds than the word?

It’s possible even likely that many Christians are unwittingly showing hospitality to demons through the voices they welcome. We wouldn’t invite a false teacher into our pulpit, but we let one whisper into our ears during the commute.

Who Shapes You?

Ask yourself: Whose voice is loudest in your life?

• Who fills your podcast queue?

• Who writes the content you scroll each day?

• Whose opinions are shaping your view of culture, politics, success, and spirituality?

• Who do you turn to for comfort, counsel, and clarity?

Are you more shaped by TikTok trends or the timeless truth of Scripture? More influenced by political commentary than gospel preaching? More moved by celebrity quotes than biblical promises?

Jesus Still Speaks

Jesus told His disciples and continues to tell us “He who has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mark 4:9). He’s not just referring to physical hearing, but spiritual attentiveness. A heart that listens.

This generation’s challenge is not just resisting what is false, but recommitting to what is true. We don’t merely need to mute the noise. We need to turn up the volume on the voice that really matters.

That starts with Scripture. Not as a checkbox on a devotional plan, but as a daily delight. His Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), capable of piercing through the noise and restoring sanity and clarity to your life.

And it continues through the church. God’s Word is preached, taught, sung, and shared among His people. When you make corporate worship and Christian fellowship central, you turn your ear toward God’s voice through His people.

The New Year’s Act of Defiance

So what would it look like to reclaim your ears this year?

• Start your day with Scripture, not social media.

• Fill your commute with truth-rich podcasts or sermons.

• Set boundaries around entertainment not because you're legalistic, but because you're hungry for something better.

• Talk more with wise, godly friends in real life than influencers on a screen.

• Ask the Holy Spirit to train your ear to delight in truth and tune out deception.

Let this be your defiant act of faith in an age of distraction: to joyfully, stubbornly, consistently listen to the voice of your Savior more than the sirens of this world.

He who has an ear, let him hear.

If this helped you refocus, consider sharing it or subscribe to our newsletter for more biblically grounded encouragement.