Learning to Listen

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me.(John 10:27)

  
When
I sit down, open my Bible, and take up my pen, it’s usually so I can tell God
every little detail and need of my life. Rarely do I stop long enough for him to
get a word in edgewise.





With all the distractions and to-do lists in our lives, how do
we quiet ourselves long enough to hear the voice of God? Like Martha, my mind
tends to think about all I have to do in the hours before me, not focus on what
the Lord might be saying to me in my quiet time. I sometimes struggle to let go
of my daily concerns so that I can receive the deeper things of God.


Although I am a big proponent of journaling and find it helpful in keeping my prayer life focused, sometimes the practice becomes more of a distraction than a spiritual discipline. Some days I need to lay down the pen, be still, and know that God is God. It isn’t necessary to continually remind him of my needs; he knows already, and he will not forget.




A few years ago, my son taught me a lesson I will never forget. As we were praying on our way to school, he ended his prayer with this statement: “Lord, I hope you have a good day.” His prayer made me stop and question how often I pray for God to be blessed instead of asking that he bless me. So often when I pray, my focus is usually on the needs of others or myself, not on God’s greatness or how I can be a blessing to him.



If we want to grow in our relationship with God, we must learn to listen. He has so much he wants to tell us, but he can’t get through to us if we don’t quiet ourselves and listen for his still, small voice.







From A
Pleasing Aroma: Inspiring Devotions for Joyful Living
Copyright ©
2011 by Dee Dee Wike. All rights reserved.








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