Jan 31
Voices
One of the things I really struggle with is slowing down long enough to really “hear” from God. Some people prefer the word solitude, but to me, that sounds like being stuck in a prison camp on an episode of 24.Â
 At any rate, I have tried everything to improve in this area! Everything! After a ton of failed attempts - I finally found something that works for me…
I have cleared my calendar every Thursday from 8 - 11:30AM. I go somewhere with my Bible, notebook, whatever book I am currently reading, and a pen. My only agenda during those hours is to slow down and hear from God. Everything is competing for our time. I had to make a strategic effort to make sure that the “everything else” didn’t win!Â
What are some of the things you do? Trust me, I need all the help I can get!
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Crud, I guess this means we aren’t going to the free money give away together on Thurs. at 9.
It seems the busier we get with life, family, children, jobs, ministries, etc the first thing we push aside is the one thing we NEED the most, the Voice of God. I applaud you for being disciplined and transparent enough to first realize that something is missing and then to do something about it. So many people just talk.
For me, I take tons of walks throughout the day or strangely enough I go to the bookstore. I also, drive from time to time without the radio or CD playing. But walking is the most productive time alone with God I have.
Thank you for sharing!
You are on the right track, my friend.
It takes me 30 minutes one way to drive to work so I turn off the radio going to work and returning home, so that’s an hour of silences. It was hard at first but after feeling energized it is easier. Most of the time is spent on talking with God, and laying down my desires and ask Him to do what He will with them (keep them or change them according to what He wants). The other times, I just enjoy the silences. In fact, I did this yesterday and as I came over the high rise bridge on I64, there was an awesome scene. It was cloudy but the sun was coming up and it was a red glow in the sky. It was a beautiful painting that only God can do. That’s what I do.
I hope you will make it a habit. Remember, it takes 3 weeks to make something a habit. God speed.
I tried the car thing MANY times! I get distracted way too easy. As a result, about every 5th car I passed, caused my mind to start randomly thinking about pizza, more work to do, or the color blue!
What hit me this morning as I was reading in The Message? The number of times I read about Jesus finding a place of solitude and praying! I hear God through reading, songs, while I’m doing other things, etc—my brain doesn’t actually speeds up in silence! I have though found starting the day early, with my coffee and Bible, with time set aside seems to be working. Fully devoted time to only that. (the car idea never worked for me either—too easily distracted!)
see, I’m sitting in silence now and I can’t even type–supposed to say “my brain doesn’t stop, it actually speeds up in silence”–point illustrated
[…] I am doing this deal of setting aside time to hear from God. I was inspired to do this by JR Lee, pastor of Freedom Church. Anyway, I’m trying to create this expectation of my life of […]