But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:26 NAS95)
When I entered the Kingdom of God through Jesus, I really didn’t expect God to speak. I prayed, I read, sometimes memorized the Word, but didn’t really notice His promptings or leading. He indeed conversed with me, but I did not notice God engaging me personally.
I had desires that appeared consistent with His leading. I hungered to know Him experientially (hmm, maybe that’s a form of His speech). I had unprayed prayers answered (very interesting). He knew my heart, but I did not notice.
Then He made it so apparent I could not help but notice. I heard verses repeating themselves.
As I noticed this more often, and repeating, with different verses because of what God was doing, I began to listen for Him. As I made that choice, to listen, the noticing of God’s leading deepened. I never looked at listening as obedience, but I noticed God’s major criticism of the Israelites concerned their lack of listening. What about me? Am I a listener of God? Do I choose to listen to Him and for Him—then respond?
Things began to change. I more deeply hungered to hear Jesus’ voice. I made another choice to pursue hearing God. I began listening to the Word, rather than just reading, but I also kept reading. I noticed resonances between the Word and the leading of the Spirit in my life. I began examining my days in light of my experience of the Spirit’s leading. Then listening to God grew as an interactive habit, not perfect, but more present. I noticed that the Spirit leads in light of Scripture, consistent with it, and He might tweak my understanding of it.
My communion grew in richness, expectation, and surprises. God intervened more than I had imagined and in very timely ways. He is with me. He is Immanuel, God with us, just as Jesus said.
Looking back, it began by God asking me to listen, even though I didn’t notice. Listening grew because of His love. I learned more and more how to recognize His leading, especially because His Word dwelt more deeply within over time. His Spirit had taught and synthesized so much of the Word for me. God wanted me to listen. Yet I had a choice to learn to listen to Him and His ways through my life. I am very grateful He helped me make that choice. Listen.
For Reflection:
“Listen, O my people, to my instruction; incline your ears to the words of my mouth.” (Psalm 78:1 NAS95)
- How have you practiced or experienced listening to God? How easily do you notice His interactions with you?
- What spiritual disciplines help you cultivate interactive listening to God?
