Christians throughout the centuries have given different names to how we hear from God. In his journal, George Fox describes how the Lord “opened” a truth to his mind. John Calvin witnessed to the “inner testimony” of the Holy Spirit. And Ignatius of Loyola recognised “movements” of the soul, thoughts, and inspirations given by God to move us closer to him.
Prayer is first of all listening to God. It's openness. God is always speaking; he's always doing something. Henri Nouwen
The word 'listen' contains the same letters as the word 'silent.' Alfred Brendel
Poem: Are You Listening by dianne register
God speaks to us, if we listen.
Do we wait for His still small voice?
Are we careful to open our hearts and ears—
A simple but definite choice?
Do we spend time each day in His presence
Sharing our hopes and our dreams;
Or call on Him just in an hour of need
As a final resort, so it seems?
What act would it take in our busy lives
To listen and heed His word--
To end chaos as it surrounds us--
To be healed – pure and free as a bird?
He tells us to give Him our burdens
To place on Him all of our cares
He promises to always be with us
And He listens to each small despair.
Is our prayer life considerably lacking?
Do we ever take time just for Him?
Or do we go through each day self indulgent
Concerned with our personal whims?
Until the next tragedy happens
Until life falls apart at the seams
Then suddenly we call Him to help us,
"Please save us," we urgently scream.
But what if our God didn't listen?
If He treated us as we do Him
Listening only when He chose to listen.
How different our lives would be then!
If He spoke when it was convenient
If spared us a short space in time
To share just a few precious moments
Of HIS personal life so sublime.
If He chose to bestow all His blessings
Just when it was found opportune
On a haphazardly personal basis
Selectively did He attune.
But God IS our constant companion
He listens and answers our prayers
He speaks to us if we just listen
For He is a Father who cares.
It's when we lean in and listen, the beautiful voice of the Lord speaks and His words are life.
Sacred Text
For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Proverbs 2: 6-15
“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Keep them within your heart.For they are life to those who find them.”
Story
Watson Thornton was already serving as a missionary in Japan when he decided to join the Japan Evangelistic Band, an evangelistic mission founded in England in 1903. He decided to travel to the town where the organization’s headquarters were located and to introduce himself to its leader. But just as he was about to get on the train, he felt a tug in his spirit that he took to be the leading of the Lord telling him to wait. He was puzzled but thought he should obey.
When the next train rolled into the station, Watson started to board but again felt he should wait. When the same thing happened with the third train, Watson began to feel foolish. Finally, the last train arrived, and once more Watson felt a check. “Don’t get on the train,” it seemed to say. Shaking his head, he thought, I guess I was wrong about this. Watson thought he had wasted most of the day for no apparent reason. Yet as he turned to go, he heard a voice call out his name. It was the mission leader he had intended to see. He came to ask whether Watson would consider joining the Japan Evangelistic Band. If Watson had ignored the impulse and boarded the train, he would have missed the meeting.
What was this impulse? Watson believed it was the voice of the Lord. Despite this, he felt unsure of himself. His actions didn’t seem to make sense at the time. It felt more like a matter of intuition than anything else.
A personal example of God speaking to me
I want to share one way in which he has spoken to me. When I was around 21, I did a GAP year traveling around different communities with a rucksack on my back and little money, and traveling by bus. When I came back to the UK, I was planning to go to Liverpool to do a post graduate teacher’s degree. I decided to spend the weekend in London with the Antioch community (which was just beginning at that time).
During that weekend God spoke very clearly to me about giving up my plans for Liverpool. His word to me was very clear and direct. God spoke to my heart and he spoke through other people as well. When I went to church on Sunday God spoke to me through the Gospel reading about not looking back when Jesus calls. I heard that word as a direct confirmation that I should not delay my response to the Lord’s call for me. So in place of Liverpool God opened up for me a place to live in community with Antioch in London. And that is where I have remained to this day.
That decision was a very strong experience and took place over the space of a weekend when I was young and flexible with my plans. But I find now-a-days, that I’m not easily open to making drastic changes like that. But the Lord is still teaching me, often through discipline, to listen to his word and to trust him when he speaks to me. As we journey with the Lord, we can be confident that the Good Shepherd will help us grow in listening to his word for us.
Rumination
Science of Mind Reading
God, take my soul to that place, where I may speak without using words.
Benediction
Mother Father God, May we take the time to seek you with all our heart, to be open to listening to your voice. In knowing that as we desire consciously to spend time in your presence we receive more than answers, directions or blessings. We receive the gift of you! Touch our hearts that we may remember to prioritise spending time with You in order to face life’s challenges with strength, peace and trust.
Song: Donnie McClurkin - Speak to my heart