LISTENING

Several years ago I was visiting with a young mother of two who was struggling. Struggling with God, with herself, struggling in her marriage.......feeling like she was being pulled in a hundred different directions. She had people that loved her telling her what they thought she should do regarding her struggles. As I listened to her, it became evident to me she was getting advise from many people but still didn't have any answers. I asked her if she had spoken to God about these struggles. She said she had asked God for guidance and had prayed for wisdom but she didn't think God was hearing her. I assured her that God was in deed hearing her but maybe she wasn't hearing His voice above the others.

As I got ready to leave, I asked her to do one thing for me.....I asked her to go meet God in a quiet place so she could hear Him. I asked her to go outside after her kids were in bed, sit on the back porch swing....go alone.....don't bring her cell phone.....don't turn on the light.....but just sit. I told her to talk to God, there in the quiet.....to pour out her heart.....to ask God for direction and for some answers. I told her that when she was done talking to stay out there and just listen.....listen for God to talk to her. She told me she would.

As I drove home I prayed hard that God would meet her. That God would show up on her back porch in a big way and there would be no doubt of His presence. I didn't hear from her for several days. I didn't call her asking her if she had heard God speak, I wanted to but I just kept praying that she would hear God speak to her.

She finally called me several days later and told me that she did indeed hear God and she heard loud and clear the direction she needed to go and the decisions she needed to make. I praised God in his faithfulness and the gift of His voice to this young mother.

I don't tell you this to brag or make myself look like some great counselor, for you see as I was driving to her house I asked God to give me the words to say to her, the words that she needed to hear. I didn't do anything special, God just used me to speak to this young mother.

I did tell you this because in 2016 I want to hear God more. I want to meet God in the quiet. I want to be still and listen to what He is saying and doing in my life and the lives of those around me. I want to feel His presence....feel His peace. I want to shut out the voices of others and only hear my God speak to me.

I get so busy in my daily life, going here and there, I can't hear God speak to me. I can't hear Him calling me to go and do for His people. I don't always feel His gentle nudges to speak a kind word to someone or to give a hug when it's needed.

I constantly have my mind on my agenda and all that I need to do that I can't hear God's voice above the other voices in my life.

In 2016, I want to be aware of God's voice. To be still long enough to hear His answers, His voice and feel His presence. I want to go to the back porch or a closet and just sit in the quiet and wait to hear Him speak to me. I want to be intentional in giving God the time He needs to make His plan made known in my life.

I know it won't be easy, but it will be worth it.....just to hear the voice of God above all the noise around me.....I long for this in 2016!

From my corner of the world.....sitting and listening