Stephen G. Derges explores how we hear God



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I'm too 'noisy': Jesus told us that when we pray we need to get into a quiet place. Just think about how Jesus communicated with His Father. If you look through the four Gospels you'll find He prayed in a whole variety of situations - early morning, late at night, in the middle of the day. He even went up mountains alone just to get away from the daily stuff so He could concentrate on what God was saying to Him.

I admit it - I like to know what's going on and I become involved in too many things. But I'm learning that when I get alone with God it enables me to pick up clear reception so I hear His voice rather than being distracted.

I'm too lazy: that extra half hour in bed is usually far more enticing than getting up and spending time with the One who holds my life in His hands. Like everything else in life, we achieve what we commit to. It's the word we hate - 'Discipline' - that's important here.

Proverbs 10: 27 in The Message Version says, "Reverence for the Lord adds hours to each day." In other words - get your priorities right and everything else will fall into line. We achieve much more when we discipline ourselves to putting God first.

In the third of this trilogy on 'How God Speaks' we'll take a look at how we know it's God that's speaking to us. But in the meantime how about asking yourself the following question?

What practical steps can I take this week to find just 5 minutes each day to speak to and listen to God for myself?

The answer to that question and the implementation of it, I promise you, will have a profound effect on your life.  CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.