Hearing God
Many of us want to hear God better. We deeply desire to shake the water out of our ears and listen in prayer more intently.
There are no tricks or magic methods to automatically open the passage to God, but I have learned a few ways that help me create a quiet space for him. Most of the time the ways hush and silent myself and my inner chatting in order to hear what he has been saying to me all along.
1. First, ask God to help you hear him better. Often we focus on our frustration of not hearing him or prefer to whine and complain about his absence instead of simply asking for his voice.
2. Practice Stillness – oh, so hard, isn’t it? A recent report told that some people preferred an electrical shock over sitting still for 15 minutes!!
“People consistently said that the short thinking period was not enjoyable and they found it difficult to concentrate. Most people said they’d rather be listening to music or using their smartphones.”
We need to retrain ourselves for quiet with all the noise infecting our souls. Practice is the key word here. Sitting still. Taking deep breaths. Allowing our mind’s eye to see Jesus sitting, being with us.
3. Pay Attention – Become aware of how you are feeling? Where you are right now? What is God inviting you to consider? What are you asking of God? Where are your muscles tense? What does that tell you? What word or phrase lingers in your heart? What is your deepest emotion in this moment?
4. Trust and believe – God will surprise us. At time he will be quiet and we may doubt we are “getting anywhere or accomplishing anything.” But God loves to come in unexpected and unusual ways. Being quiet before him is like dialing the radio onto a clearer channel. We adjust, we listen and we will hear.
5. Space and Ritual – God will speak to us anyplace and without any effort on our part. I have found though I hear him better often after time of dwelling in his word, the Bible, sitting in a regular prayer spot and often following a quieting ritual, like lighting a candle, humming a prayerful chant, enjoying the view of my garden. Centering prayer – simply repeating one word also helps.
6. Journaling – writing in my journal clarifies and records how I hear God. Often as the words drip from my pen, I am surprised at what I write. This thinking with ink leads me deeper than expected and many times with overwhelming feelings of affirmation of the experience of God.
We are poor listeners in today’s society. Are we really listening to God, for God? Do we only give God our spare moments and say, “hurry up Lord and speak quickly because work and my to-do list beckons?”
When we are honest and simply sit before him, being with him, we will hear his voice.
What helps you hear God?
Meditation. Just sit still and listen / feel you breathe. It’s easy to do – especially in the morning.
I certainly agree with you, Irene. I know when I start my mornings this way, the rest of the day goes better.!
Hi Jean,
great tips…it went well with my post so I linked to your post in my post http://soulstops.com/post/2014/09/13/A-prayer-for-Trust-1.aspx Thank you! And you’re right, we do need to learn to retrain ourselves to quiet and to listen to God in prayer….prayed for you this week re: your writing 🙂
Did check your post out. thanks for the link. good minds run together or better yet, God using both of us to get his message out. blessing on your week ahead.
GREAT advice, Jean! If someone committed to implementing each idea you present here, and persevered for awhile, she would surely begin to recognize God’s voice. In Step #4 you made an important point: God loves to speak in unusual and unexpected ways–perhaps to affirm that it IS his still voice and not our imaginations. I have sensed God speaking to me through music, through other people, through books (in addition to the Bible), through impressions in my spirit. Each time there is an element of surprise, as if he has come up behind me, tapped me on the shoulder, and spoken. Each time is incredibly thrilling. Think of it: the Almighty King of the universe speaking to US! How amazing is that?!
Thanks Nancy. Now if that someone was me…lol. being consistent is my flaw. I love the God surprises though and he certainly does love to surprise me. I think he takes special delight in that.He IS amazing.
I’m still so shocked by that study that people would prefer to be shocked instead of being still. They’re definitely not contemplative types like us. ha.
Excellent tips you share here, Jean. I do want to listen better in prayer, not do all the talking myself. I’ve been more disciplined the past couple of months to prioritize my centering prayer time, and oh, how I’ve needed it! God does speak, and I want to hear.
Lisa, that study really took me back too. One reason why I bookmarked it ; I knew as soon as I read about it, it had go into a blog post at some point. I just don’t get it. Some people are so fearful of quiet and being alone. I find it restorative and energizing to be honest. I too have been more focused on centering prayer and journaling the past month and found it makes a lot of difference. So glad we are on the same path together, Lisa.
Such a vital message to our busy selves to simply be still and listen to God. Like you, I feel Him pouring through my words when I write; it’s some of the best time I spend with the Lord every day. Thanks for the inspiration, Jean!
Journaling really does center me and I know since I have returned to somewhat regularly writing in one, I find I am hearing God better. DUH – should have known that, right? LOL
🙂