Last week’s quiet time coaching episode struck a chord with several people. Amongst those was my friend from Denver, Matt Anjilivelil. He sent me a copy of a study he has put together to help people to learn how to hear God.
He makes the point that God spoke to his people in the Bible. For example, Adam and Eve, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, David, Elijah, Jeremiah, Mary, Jesus and Paul. Even if we may not hear God in the same way they did, it is clear that God loves to communicate with his people. The rest of his study can be found by clicking below.
Matt set me to thinking about a couple of things. Let’s take Samuel for example.
Perhaps we don’t hear because we are not listening to obey.
“So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”” 1 Samuel 3:9-10
listening שָׁמַע šāmaꜥ 1165x Q to hear, listen, obey; N to be heard; P to summon, call together; H to proclaim, summon, make hear; from the base meaning of hearing come the extensions of understanding and obedience. → announce; hear; listen; obey; perceive; proclaim; understand.
Listening to obey is one way we tune in to God’s wavelength. It is how we find the sound of his voice. Every Sunday our guitarists tune to the piano in the venue we use for our Sunday services. It takes active listening to match the pitch of the guitar to that of the piano. Passive listening will not do it.
I am currently reading the book, “Letters by a Modern Mystic” by Frank Laubach. He says this about his progress to being a good God-listener:
“I feel like one who has had his violin out of tune with the orchestra and at last is in harmony with the music of the universe.” (Frank Laubach, Letters by a Modern Mystic)
What do you find helpful to hear the voice of God?
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“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)
God bless, Malcolm
