How to hear God’s voice when you can’t quiet your mind
How to hear God’s voice when you can’t quiet your mind
The house was empty and quiet, as I sat down to spend time on my bible study today. Which, isn’t to say, the same thing as spending time with God.
Random thoughts repeatedly flooded my mind, shoving out any focus or concentration on the subject matter. Frustrated, I asked God, where do you want me to start? Immediately, I sensed an answer.
Just be with me.
Can I hear God’s voice when I’m distracted?
Here is the funny thing about our natural tendency. We ask God a question, feel His answer, and then think did we just think that ourselves, did I really hear that answer or am I trying to manipulate the outcome of something? Ugh. Silly humans.
Just be with me. You are too distracted to study. I’d rather you just listened to me today.
I closed up my books and quietly sat somewhere, determined to just be. To listen. Anddddddd, it lasted for a few good seconds before my brain decided to interfere, again.
Even when we feel fairly calm and peaceful, our thoughts have a habit of running wild. They simply must be tamed. However, it is okay if that doesn’t happen right away.
Did you know that God is not surprised (or disappointed or mad) by our lack of follow through when we want to sit and hear His voice?
God is well aware of Satan’s every attempt to steal restorative time from us, and distraction is a key tool used against us.
5 tips to hear God’s voice when you can’t quiet your mind
Let your mind wander, momentarily, then respond. I used to feel like such a spiritual failure for being unable to quiet my mind. God’s word is a powerful tool to help in this area!
When our thoughts are rambling and we desperately are trying to spend quality time with God, remember:
God doesn’t expect perfection to spend time in His presence. He wants us how we are, the whole hot mess. It isn’t just in a study that we find Him, it is in the unexpected. Let’s not limit ourselves.
God delights in spending time with His children. We can remind ourselves that we are created for His pleasure. He KNEW our perceived flaws and the Bible constantly reminds us that we are accepted,as we are, in all our distraction.
God is patient with us. We are apprentices in life, not masters. Spending time with God gets easier the more we practice!
God is never surprised by the power of our minds to go 1,000 directions. He created them and must love to see the unique ticking of our thought processes. We should not judge ourselves harshly when God only offers mercy. Just keep trying.
God gave us the best tool to answer those nagging thoughts. Scripture. For every intruding thought that comes into our quiet time, respond with truth instead of our own heaped-on guilt.
(Download the free printable of the 5 reminders here)
How do you recognize God’s voice?
The washer was finishing on the spin cycle and something with metal was clanging around in the dryer. As I laid on the couch to just be and listen, it felt hard. My desire was there…and so was my mental cacophony.
Suddenly it all stopped. There was silence.
For each thought that kept trying to steal my peace, I quickly responded with truth. God’s truth, not my own altered point of view.
Sometimes we do our best to be holy as we are called to do. Buuuuttttt, then we are just so human. However…
Being Holy as God asks us to imitate? Sometimes looks a lot like a tired-out woman who is just showing up. Determined. Holy can be a beautiful mess in training.
His presence is an invitation, not a chore.
God’s voice is heard in His companionship and comfort.
What does the Bible say about hearing God’s voice?
Hebrews 13:5 tells us God promises to NEVER leave or forsake us.
Deuteronomy 4:29 encourages us to seek the Lord, and he WILL be found.
God’s voice doesn’t have to come as a loud, booming megaphone.
Sometimes we need to shut off the world’s megaphone, to hear the whisper of our Lord.
When distraction threatens to make our Bible time another thing to check off the list? Set it down and come back later, we aren’t ushered into God’s presence as a chore…but as an invitation.
There are times when God simply whispers an offer to just be with me.
And these are some of the sweetest, simplest times that we almost miss in our determination to spend time in one prescribed way. Perfect fellowship for the imperfect person.
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