"Hear, O my people, and I will warn you - if you would but listen to me, O Isreal" Psalm 81:8

"If my people would but listen to me, if Isreal would follow my ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!"  Psalm 81:13-14

How many times have we told our children, "If you would have listened to me, that wouldn't have happened" or "I tried to tell you, but you wouldn't listen."?  I know, in my house, it seems like I hear myself saying that almost every day. 

God's word is full of wisdom, advice, direction, etc, but how many times do we not listen and try to do things our own way, and end up in a big mess?  How many times do we hear the Lord telling us to do something, but we ignore him and then find ourselves in trouble?

We don't want our children to get hurt - physically or emotionally - so we try to warn them and protect them.  The Lord loves us even more - and He doesn't want to see us hurt - and He tries to warn us - if only we would listen to him.