Gratitude Day 405

Tues., Feb. 11, 2020

Job 33:31: (God said,) “Job, pay attention and listen to me; be quiet, and I will speak.”

Sometimes, the world is so noisy.

There are days when I relish getting into the car, all by myself, with no one to talk to. No one to listen to. Just me.

Oh, how selfish this sounds!

But, honestly, it’s real.

I know there is less noise in my life than many others encounter. For this, I am grateful. Yet, there are days …

Noise is more than the spoken word, music, TV, or the garbage truck driving by. Noise is truly anything that distracts us. Keeps us from hearing ourselves. Keeps us, more importantly, from hearing God.

Many times, people have said, “God has never come to me. God has never spoken to me.” While this may be true, I often wonder, “Do you ever put yourself into a position where you are quiet/slow/not distracted enough so you CAN hear God? Or would God need a bull horn as big as Texas to get your attention?”

Believe me. I’m guilty as well. I find a hundred reasons why not to be quiet so I can hear God.

Recently, a person asked me, “How do you know when God is speaking to you?” It’s a great question. While there are many possible answers, I think making sure you are ready to hear from God must be near the top of the list. If we aren’t listening for God, God may have spoken to you and you missed it. If there is too much “noise” in our lives, God’s voice or desire to speak to us gets mixed in with all the other “noise” in our lives.

Honestly, God may not speak to you on your timeframe. When this happens, we get all hoity-toity and just assume God has no time for us. Maybe, just maybe God did speak … and we were not able to hear. Or we weren’t in a position where we were ready to hear what God had to say.

Sometimes, it’s selective hearing.

I pray that you find moments in your days and weeks where God would have a sliver of an opportunity to speak to you. I pray God uses you as God’s megaphone (or small microphone) to someone else. I pray that you yearn for God to speak to you … and believe it will happen.

Sometimes, we need a little quiet. Time in the car just with us and God. No radio, no cell phone, no distractions. We turn off what needs to be done and simple be with God. No agenda. No expectation. No disappointment if nothing really happens.

Slow down. Sit. Listen. Anticipate God speaking to you. It will be a good day.

If you have a prayer request today, drop it in the comments. I would love to pray for it.

For the reminder to simple by so we can listen, I am grateful.

Blessings –

Dianne

Holy God – Thank you for giving us a wonderful example of community even within the Trinity. Thank you for teaching us how important it is to have friends who love you and care deeply for you. I pray we encourage and support those people who are special brothers and sisters in our lives. Amen.

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