“Listening to God”
It’s almost that time of year again! The holidays are approaching and Advent season will soon be upon us. Often our best plans “go astray” and we become bogged down with the pressures of the season and the demands on our time. All the more reason to find those few moments we call “silence”…those special places we consider “solitude”. It takes a plan and it calls for some discipline.
“What does the voice of God sound like? The voice from heaven reported in Matthew 17:1-8 suggests that when we listen to Jesus, we hear the voice of God. As Christians we share the good news that God can be heard, understood, and obeyed. We have Scriptures, nature, history and the stories of our lives that speak God’s truth. Further, we have the capacity to ‘hear’ God’s voice deep within our own souls. Practices and disciplines increase our desire and capacity to be faithful to what we hear and know to be the voice of God. John Wesley called these practices means of grace, that is, practices that mediate God’s love, will, presence, and power in very special ways. Polish up your practice of prayer and silence and you will be amazed at what you hear.” (adapted: Reuben Job, Guide to Prayer, 120)
Our ministries demand that we spend time alone with God, in silence and not with an agenda. Our integrity depends upon these moments with God. Without silence, our anxieties, schedules, agenda, prayer concerns, planning become overwhelming. Take time to be silent as we head into Advent later this month. Reflect on God’s Word by opening the eyes of your heart to his endless and powerful Word.
- Find a quiet place where you will not be distracted or interrupted
- Praise God in prayer and worship
- Ask the Holy Spirit to quiet your heart and focus you on Jesus
- Confess and reflect on God’s unconditional love and grace
- Rest in quiet and let God speak to your heart
- Respond to what you hear
Challenge your small group to join you in listening and reflecting as the Advent season approaches. Keep a journal. Share your thoughts. Act. Praise God!
