"And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, 'Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!'
But He said, 'More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.'" Luke 11:28

Today I want to bring out Scripture that speaks of our hearing, but as an aside notice it is Jesus who puts the priority of a blessing on hearing and keeping God's word rather than on a person. People often do that with a teacher, minister or a godly person, but it is the word not the messenger that we bless, honor and follow. Some have been lead astray by putting the messenger in the place of God's word. (The tragedy of Jim Jones' followers comes to mind.) Scripture gives us warning. Galatians is an example as we see in the Apostle Paul's letter,

"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ."
Galatians 1:6-7
And,
In 2 Timothy 4:3-4 we see,
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears way from the truth, and be turned aside to fables."

As for hearing, look at Eli's direction to Samuel and Samuel's response in
1 Samuel 3:9-10 (Read the whole of Vs. 2-18) "Therefore Eli said to Samuel, 'Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, 'Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears,' So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Then the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, 'Samuel!
Samuel!' And Samuel answered, 'Speak, for Your servant hears.'"
(Some translations use listens in place of hears.)

Is this our attitude? When we open our Bibles do we say in our mind and heart, 'Speak Lord for Your servant listens.' Would that not heighten our attention and expectation as to what we are about to receive? And how about preparing for a Bible study or a sermon with that focus?

Nehemiah 8:3 speaks of the attentiveness of the people when the Law was read after the wall was rebuilt and Jerusalem was restored.
"Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law."

In Acts 2:37 we see the response to Peter's message given to the people about the risen Lord Jesus. They heard and were convicted.
"Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Men and brethren, what shall we do?"
Read Vs. 38-40 here Peter answers.
Vs. 41 tells us the result -- they listened and responded, "Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them."

Jesus gives a warning in the Parable of the Lamp Luke 8:16-18, "Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him." Vs. 18 (The same is written in Mark 4:21-25)

In Proverbs we see,
"Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it. Blessed is the man who listens to me..." Proverbs 8:33-34 And, "The ear that hears the reproof of life will abide among the wise." 15:31

Then in Revelations, in Jesus' messages to the churches He repeats seven times and followed by a wonderful blessing 'to him who overcomes', "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

There are so many things in our lives that distract us, but seek the Lord in this matter of hearing/listening. Concerning praying Jesus said, "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door pray to your Father..."
In our private time in the word it is good to set aside a time daily in a place with as few distractions as possible where we are free to totally focus on what God has to say to us. So we are free to say to the Lord, "Speak Lord, Your servant listens." Then, of course, we do as the Spirit directs.

Lord we thank you, that you have given us hearts that are unto You and ears that desire to hear then to do Your will. We love You Lord and thank you for this life we have in Christ Jesus. Amen