A frequent complaint I hear from people is that they can’t hear God talking to them.
When God is speaking to me, I don’t hear a voice like a person talking to me face to face. But I definitely hear intuitions, fresh ideas, and new perspective that come directly from the Mind of God that I’m supposed to act on.
When waiting for God’s direction, the Big Question is usually not whether God is communicating with me, but “Am I listening?”
I saw a stark example of not listening last weekend.
My family went to Arby’s for lunch after church. My son told the order-taker at the counter, “I’d like a 16 ounce vanilla shake.” He read his order directly from the menu.
The gal at the cashier replied, “What size would you like?”
My son repeated, “The 16 ounce size.”
“Okay,” the cashier said.
Then she asked, “What flavor do you want?”
“Vanilla,” my son repeated.
“Alright,“ she spoke as she typed the request into her computer board.
My son and I glanced at each other with a look of “She is oblivious.”
I saw a vital spiritual lesson in the experience.
My son had communicated exactly what his order was to her, but she hadn’t heard a word he said. Her pre-formed conceptions about how the order should come deafened her ears to his original words. She had to do it “her way.”
And the same error can happen with our listening to God’s directions. If we have too many pre-formed concepts about how blessings should come our way, we don’t hear God’s way. And we can miss out entirely.
So be assured, God is speaking to you. The real question is, “Are you listening?”
First of all, I love this photograph, just adorable!
Listening to God for His guidance requires humility. Surrendering of self, pride, personal preferences, etc.
When we do humble ourselves, it canlead to beautiful outcomes. As you well know from your own practice.
This is a valuable reminder, thank you as always Evan.
Happy Father’s Day also, your Daddy qualities are lovely to see too……
We have but one Father!
As usual, Evan, you come up with answers before I even ask. Many times when I tell my caregivers what I want them to do, they never “HEAR” me because, as you pointed out, their thoughts are based on pre-conceived notions and I have to repeat and repeat. Thank GOD for C/S for giving me so much patience.
And then again, there’s our expression of “patience” and understanding, “listening” when sometimes the people we interact with are struggling with their own issues, repetitive jobs that “sometimes” cause them to slide into autopilot. I know I’ve been guilty of this often, becoming annoyed when the “other” person isn’t hearing me, and then I stop and think, what kind of day have they had, take a breath, give a compliment, say something to help break their/our mesmerism.
Then come the smiles and we’re good to go.
I find this very helpful, as I sometimes have felt that I cannot hear God speaking to me. I had once a ineffable experience, where I ‘heard’, ‘saw’ and ‘felt’ God talking to me. It was indescribable! Since then, I so much wished to experience the same thing again. But, it did not happen, and I felt that I could not hear God anymore. Your words: “When God is speaking to me, I don’t hear a voice like a person talking to me face to face. But I definitely hear intuitions, fresh ideas, and new perspective that come directly from the Mind of God…” make me realize that it is not true that I can’t hear God anymore! Of course, I ‘hear’ Him!
Thank you so much!
I feel for the girl. It may have been her first day.