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Do you remember when God’s voice was the loudest voice in your life? 

The privilege of connecting with God on an intimate level can be easily overlooked in busy seasons of life. Slow seasons offer the margin needed to discern the voice of God, but when the noise and distraction increase, it doesn’t take long for time with God to decrease.

Without time with God, we won’t have clarity. When we leave God out of the conversation, we miss out on learning from the One who holds our future in His hands. 

I’ve certainly found myself feeling distant from God before. Believe me, it wasn’t intentional. It’s just that life has caused me to lose focus on the most important relationship in my life: my relationship with God.

The intimate relationships in my life didn’t grow into safe, secure, highly connected relationships by accident. Intimacy requires time and attention. In order to experience closeness, both parties must spend time in each other’s presence and really learn one another.

I currently have the joy of enjoying the sweetness of a brand-new granddaughter. It’s amazing when she holds my finger tightly and marvels at my face with her bright eyes. There’s just nothing else in the world like it. 

I pray that spending time with her now and as she grows will create a level of closeness between she and I.

When I think back on the days of enjoying each of my newborns, I remember how connected and close I felt when I gazed into the eyes of my children. I still look at my grown children with affection, but let me tell you, there’s just something about looking into the eyes of a fairly new little one. And it’s no wonder that babies come into the world with love for their mothers. After all, they are the only ones who can hear their mother’s heartbeat and her voice from the inside.

This is the kind of closeness that God wants for our relationship with Him. That we know His voice above all the other voices in our lives. 

If you desire greater intimacy with the Lord, there are three principles for discerning God’s voice that I want to share with you.

Get quiet and get still – While we can’t always control the volume of all the noise in our lives, we often have the option of turning down some of the outside voices and distractions. We can also quiet ourselves. 

Just like I often have to remind my older children to stop talking and to listen when I’m speaking, God needs us to be quiet when He has something to tell us so we can actually hear.

Psalm 46:10 reminds us to, “Be still, and know that I am God.” 

We can be so quick to tell God our problems and pray for solutions, but what if He has been waiting for the space and time to guide us in the right direction? What if He simply wants to develop your trust in Him during this time? 

Pay attention when He speaks – God often speaks to us in many ways. He may speak to us through Scripture, but He also uses people, podcasts, sermons, and even dreams to get our attention. 

But are you too distracted to notice when the Lord is speaking? We often expect God to talk to us in obvious and forceful ways, but most often, He speaks to us through a gentle whisper. And you know how hard it can be to hear a whisper over noise or when you’re preoccupied with something else. 

Leave margin in your life to slow down.

Whether it’s in the morning or at night, shift things in your routine so you can spend time with God. Throughout your day, ensure you have room to be still by getting to your destinations early or clearing your schedule. When you have the privilege of being in a slower season of life, really lean into God’s presence so that you have something to carry with you when life inevitably picks up.

Share your response with God – I’ve found myself disappointed when I expected a response from someone and got nothing in return. 

Likewise, to keep an intimate connection with God, you must practice responding. Know that He cares about how you feel. When you hear from God, affirm what you heard. Express your gratitude for His guidance.  Ask the hard questions when you get a response you didn’t anticipate or desire. 

Prayer is simply a conversation with God.

We’re not just waiting for answers to our problems; we’re looking for a connection with God. As the popular Norah Jones song says, God is saying, “Come Away With Me.” 

If you’re struggling to hear from God and to discern His voice, try starting your day with 5 minutes in His presence. If you’re like me, calm background music helps to quiet the mind and get intentional about the time spent. I also encourage you to write down what the Holy Spirit delivers to your heart and mind. 

You don’t have to figure everything out by yourself. God actually wants to help you! Take the steps to get still and quiet the noise in your life. 

And be sure you’re ready to listen when God speaks. 

As you commit to regular conversation with the God who loves you, you will notice feelings of distance decrease and experience greater intimacy with the One who desires greater intimacy with you.

 

Highlights from Today’s Episode

  • Get quiet and get still
  • Pay attention when God speaks
  • Share your thoughts with God

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Let’s Talk!

  1. Is there anyone or anything in your life that is keeping you from hearing from God?
  2. How do you plan to make time for God in your everyday life? Will you meet with Him in the morning or the evening?
  3. Are you comfortable with sharing the cares of your heart with God? If not, what would it take for you to reach that level of intimacy with Him?

 

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