Learning to Hear God's voice

My husband has been leading us all through the book "Hearing God" by Peter Lord for the second time. The first time, it was just interesting. This time through we are taking things more slowly and writing notes on a white board as we go along.

The challenge is to get alone and learn to avoid the traps, snares and hindrances that keep us from hearing His voice.

It's amazing that many of us who claim the name of "Christian" rarely take time to hear Him speak to us personally. This is a serious problem; as it is vital that we hear from Him! Hearing and obeying God is what differentiated Jesus from the pharisees; it is what made Him holy and blameless. Jesus was not always sensitive and soft, nor was He bombastic and harsh, He simply did whatever God told Him to do with instant obedience. He lived a life of hearing and obeying.

And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one" (John 10:22-30) [emphasis mine]

Most of us live by attempting to apply the words of the Bible to our lives--and this is well and good, but we must, as His disciples, learn to develop a "hearing ear" in order to be led by God's Holy Spirit.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:12-15) [emphasis mine]

Our Christianity is not about how we look or feel, but about sweet communion with our heavenly Father, a restored intimacy with the Maker of heaven and earth! Our spiritual rebirth and dedication to Christ through faith in His completed work renews a right relationship so deep and precious that it cannot be articulated--what a wonderful privilege!

We women tend to have what I call "spaghetti brains"--everything is all mixed up--yet connected. This is why it can seem impossible for us to focus on "just" God for even 30 minutes at a time. Right in the middle of our quiet time we will remember that dental appointment or think of a new way to make lasagna, making it difficult to close it all off and settle down again to the task at hand--"hearing His voice". In Peter Lord's book, Hearing God, he discusses how to focus on His voice while learning to deal with all the distractions.

I heard Elizabeth Elliot say years ago that she used an old hymnal to keep her focus in the right place. I keep a hymnal, the Word and a prayer book in my quiet place, just so that I can train my brain to focus all of that massive creativity in the right direction. In earlier years of emotional upheaval I used to journalize my prayers, which kept my thoughts in line and focused on Him.

After a season of training, even I, the worst of the spaghetti-heads, can train my wires to all flow simultaneously to the Father, and in that way find rest, worship and quiet.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3) [emphasis mine]

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) [emphasis mine]

I am finding daytime less and less conducive to uninterrupted alone time, so I await His call to come away with Him at night (my husband is very supportive and has his own time alone as well). It is either right after the children go to sleep, or in the wee hours of the morning (whatsoever He desires).

I walk down the hallway and hear the children all breathing, the soft moonlight shining on the floor, and continue to make my way to the closet. The silence is often deafening--like a ring in my ears I am not accustomed to. I read and my mind becomes adjusted to the absence of input. I begin to settle. As my mind wanders, I grab it back and read a little more--then the quiet comes softly and sweetly once again.

Psalm 62:8 reads, "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us."

King David wrote these words (above) while suffering through the betrayal of his son Absalom. As the children age there are more opportunities to feel helpless as I watch them stumble, and at times, falter in their young adult lives--and then there is the training of the ones still at home who need my full attention. I am afraid life moves on so swiftly at times that I become accustomed to handling things without pouring my heart out before God, and then listening to His guidance. Even David, the man after God's own heart, knew from whence his help came. What release there is in getting alone and sharing with the One who was acquainted with our grief and sorrows! (Isaiah 53)

This hymn expresses it so very well:

I Must Tell Jesus

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;

I cannot bear these burdens alone;

In my distress He kindly will help me;

He ever loves and cares for His own.

Chorus:

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

I cannot bear my burdens alone;

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

I must tell Jesus all of my troubles;

He is a kind, compassionate Friend;

If I but ask Him, He will deliver,

And in my griefs with me He will blend.

Tempted and tried I need a great Savior,

One who can help my burdens to bear;

I must tell Jesus, I must tell Jesus;

He all my cares and sorrows will share,

O how the world to evil allures me!

O how my heart is tempted to sin!

I must tell Jesus; He will enable

Over the world the vic'try to win.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. (Psalm 27:14)

I don't always get goosebumps. I definitely don't hear angels sing. I just arrive broken--"The LORD [is] nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." (Psalm 34:18)

As I live a surrendered life I may not find out until the next day just what my prayers were for--perhaps the patience I will need in a tumultuous moment, or the sensitivity and insight I will need to answer a probing question, or the wisdom I will need to follow 'my plan', which is now only 'His plan'.

Just as an interesting aside suggestion, a good place to start up a conversation with God might be with Mother Theresa's Humility List (found at Let My Soul Flower in the Night) with my Dearest One. (HT to Kim at Starry Sky Ranch).