I am so excited about my new blogging focus so of course my mind is filled with thoughts of writing. Yet it isn’t easy to find the right time to do that, as I have three little ones. And I don’t want to just write to write. I really want to try to write as the Holy Spirit inspires me. I don’t want this to be led by me, but led by the Spirit.
A few moments ago I knew I would have a pocket of time so, as I was thinking ahead about it, I asked God. “So, should I write? What should I write about?”
I asked these questions as I brushed my hair, staring into the mirror, wondering why my hair looked so wavy. “Okay. What should I do with this time? Read? Write?”
“You gave me so many ideas to cover when I was driving the car. But now what? Please tell me.”
And it occurred to me that I was doing what my kids so often do. When they are talking with me, they don’t focus on what I have to say. They just say what they want to say and then tune out and into their cars, Legos or whatever. Sure, at times they want an answer, but most of the time they just don’t pay much attention. And it really frustrates me. One of my summertime goals is to “teach” one of our sons to be a better listener.
So, as I was brushing my hair and talking to God I realized I was doing very much what my children do: I wasn’t focusing on my conversation. If I want to hear from God, I need to listen. And listen well. Not brush my hair. But go and sit down and listen.
“Be still and know that I am God’” comes to mind. How often do I do that? Perhaps I need to take a clue from my own advice to my kiddos and stop and listen when I’m having a conversation with someone… especially my Father.
The church I attend recently encouraged many of us to take at least 10 minutes a day to really listen to God. To turn off the distractions (all of them) and sit in complete silence and just listen. In the quiet. With nothing distracting us.
We tried it at the seminar for a few minutes and it was amazing. I could hear God loud and clear. I happily put a little sticker with the number 10 on the back of my mobile phone to remind me to find 10 minutes (or more) every day to just listen. To completely give God 10 minutes. (How much more has he given me?)
My first experience at home was a little tough. My mind wandered a bit at the beginning but by the end I could hear his message. And with each day I got better and better at focusing and listening. (And worse and worse at drifting off either in my mind or off to sleep.)
One day, of course, something came up and took that time and then the next day it happened again and then I was out of the habit. I justified to myself that my daily Bible reading would suffice.
Now I’ve decided that it will not. Sure, I still need to do my Bible reading. And hearing from God that way is important. But so is just clearing my mind and focusing solely on Him.
And when I talk with God throughout the day, I need to listen to my own instruction to my children: I need to stop what I am doing and focus solely on Him. I shouldn’t just deliver what I have to say and half-heartedly listen for His answer. I need to give him all of my attention. And I need to get back in the habit of devoting just 10 minutes of each day to just listening.
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I just took my own advice and sat and listened. I didn’t hear much, except that I needed to add that this listening time is meant to be just that: Listening time. These 10 minutes are not for worship or for requests. Calm your mind and remain silent to hear what He might have for you.
Like I said, I didn’t hear much. I’m in a hotel and I was distracted by children in the hall. And then I began to wonder when my husband and son would be returning and if they had the opportunity to play any tennis. And so I had to remind myself that I can think about those things later. This is my time for God. It’s not always easy. And I won’t always hear something I think to be major. But I still need to listen. Then I will hear what He has just for me
Do you have a listening habit? Do you think you could adopt one? If you feel comfortable, tell us about it.
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