I’m a writer.
When I started writing this blog I found that the best writing ideas came to me very early in the morning. I would slip out of my bedroom, head downstairs to the coffee maker, open the window blinds and sit in my favorite spot where I could see sun slowly rise to reveal a new day. It was a perfect scenario to be quiet with God while I drank my first cup of coffee. I would start off by saying “Good morning” to God and thanking Him for things in my life. Then I would ask God to speak to me while I sat in silence and listened to what God was saying to me. It was a wonderful, peaceful time.
Over the summer, I found a new spot for my quiet time. It was on my front porch – right outside the window from my regular spot. (If you follow me on my Facebook page, you’ve seen it.) It was quiet, peaceful and perfect, away from the noise inside my house and I still got to watch the sun rise to a new day.
With the start of school, schedules have changed! Now the Kid is awake at 5:00 a.m. – about the same time that I am. It’s no longer quiet in my house unless I awake at 4:30 a.m. But even then, I’m never guaranteed a quiet house at that hour as the Kid has always been an early riser. I can’t retreat out to the porch for quiet time because the weather has changed and it’s too dark and cold. So, my quiet time and place needs to be changed. I haven’t quite yet figured out my new schedule for quiet time. But it will likely be after the Kid gets on the bus which leaves at 7:00 a.m. – after the morning rush of managing the Kid, shooting basketball hoops or tossing the football back and forth with him (a great way to get the blood pumping in my veins!), and putting him on the bus. It’s quiet in the house at that time and it’s about the time for my second cup of coffee.
While having a particular time and place for daily quiet time with God is the ideal scenario, God is showing me that He is speaking to me throughout my day. Over the years I’ve gotten to know His voice so well during the quiet times that I can hear Him in any situation.
Let me explain.
Being a writer, God brings ideas and thoughts to me at the least convenient times and places. (For instance, I am sitting here tapping away on my computer surrounded by lots of people while the Kid and his friends are jumping on trampolines to burn off their excess energy – not exactly conducive to writing or hearing anything!) But just like I can distinguish the Kid’s voice/scream/yell amidst all the other noise, I can hear my heavenly Father’s voice among the many other voices and noises around me. How? It’s because I’ve had those times in quiet places where I’ve learned to be quiet and listen. As a result of that practice, I can hear His voice – when it’s not so quiet.
In the devotional, “Jesus Calling”, Sarah Young writes, “Beginners need a quiet place in order to still their minds. As you advance in this discipline, you gradually learn to carry the stillness with you wherever you go.”
That’s what it’s like in learning to hear God’s voice. You have to do the daily practice of getting to know His voice in the quiet places in order to hear His voice in the midst of noise. AND, the beauty of all this is that God wants to talk with you! That’s right! He loves you and wants to have a relationship with you!
If you are having a difficult time hearing Him, just ask Him to speak REALLY LOUD! I’m almost positive that you’ll get some results.
Blessings to you my friend as you learn to hear God’s voice.
This is a great video that Bill Hybels talks about how 15 minutes in a chair can impact a life. Click on the pink text to view the video Coffee With God
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