Do you remember a game that we use to play a little children; you get shy, or bashful and you simply close your eyes and you think everyone else is gone. Sometimes in our relationship with Jesus - well the same thing happens - we seek to do His will, and walk in His Way = but then we close our eyes (or ears ) and think it will just happen and all the distractions of the world will just go away - they never do ! So how can we Hear God’s Voice ?
Well there are three ways - however - before we do - let’s discover together what tends to be what could prevent us from hearing His Voice
1. Noise: - the busyness of our lives causes us to be unable to hear God’s call. Important everyday to take time to hear Him. Find a time, Find a Spot, Find a Prayer and go with it. Let God do the rest.
2. Nuisance: - it is so easy to let the “stuff” of life get us down - others - their demands, expectations become hurdles or weights which take away from what we can accomplish with God’s Grace - if we hear Him. Live in the “what is” and don’t let the nuisances of life hinder His voice.
3. Nonsense: - unrealized goals in life (regrets), past hurts, gossip and sillyness find their way into our life and prevent us from hearing Him. Let them go, surrender them to Him and focus not on the voice of the “Nellie down the street who knows it all”, but on the God who controls it all.
So How can we hear God’s call
1. Openness - Desire to do God’s will each day. Say to Him everyday “ I am willing to go !” and let His will take priority, His voice makes the difference.
2. Opportunity- Looking for those moments and check out what God is doing in your life - He is always active and at work in our lives. We just need to seek and search; that is where prayer comes in.
St John of the Cross said prayer cleans the window of the soul. Jean Vanier referred to prayer as that which opens the soul to the action of God like a petal to the sun. St Thomas Aquinas say it is not God who needs prayer - it is us - He transforms us through it. So take up every opportunity to pray. How do we pray? We must be immersed in listen to the voice of God; set aside everything and come aside with Him.
3. Obedience - When you hear His voice - GO ! (John 21: 15-19).
So this week don’t let noise, nuisance or nonsense stop you from hearing His voice, rather, listen for Him, Be Open, Seek Opportunities, Obey and Go !