Quiet Time: Can You Hear Me Now?

Listening is a natural part of building a relationship.  In order to get to know someone, we must be willing to listen to them in order to understand them better.  This QT is to help us get to know God better so we are able to draw closer to him.

My dear brothers and sisters, always be willing to listen and slow to speak. Do not become angry easily, because anger will not help you live the right kind of life God wants. So put out of your life every evil thing and every kind of wrong. Then in gentleness accept God’s teaching that is planted in your hearts, which can save you.

James 1:19-21

Anger blocks us from hearing and listening to God.  We all can relate to being angry because we don’t get what we want.  God’s solution for anger is being quick to listen and slow to speak.

How does your anger affect your ability to listen to God?

Today, put listening into practice.  Approach everything you do today with an attitude of being quick to listen and keep a record of what you learn today.

“Come to me, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives. The burden that I ask you to accept is easy; the load I give you to carry is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

What do you do with your fears, your burdens, your sins, and your failures?  God says we should come to him and he will help us get the rest and the confidence we need to overcome anything that life throws at us.

Where do you go to handle the pressure of your life?

Start turning to God today by praying about the top 2-3 things in your life you need help with.

The boy Samuel served the Lord under Eli. In those days the Lord did not speak directly to people very often; there were very few visions.

1 Samuel 3:1

We all want vision for our lives.  When we listen to the word of God, he will give us vision for us and for others.

What vision do you have for yourself?  What vision do you have for others?

When you study the word of God, write out the vision God is putting in front of you through his word for you and for others.

Eli’s eyes were so weak he was almost blind. One night he was lying in bed. Samuel was also in bed in the Lord’s house, where the Ark of the Agreement was. God’s lamp was still burning. Then the Lord called Samuel, and Samuel answered, “I am here!” He ran to Eli and said, “I am here. You called me.” But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” So Samuel went back to bed.

1 Samuel 3:2-5

God calls us all the time to come to him.  He calls us through our difficulties, our weaknesses, our sins, our failures, our wants but we tend to not hear his call.

How has God been calling you?  Are you running to people or running to God?

The Lord called again, “Samuel!” Samuel again went to Eli and said, “I am here. You called me.” Again Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the Lord had not spoken directly to him yet. The Lord called Samuel for the third time. Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “I am here. You called me.” Then Eli realized the Lord was calling the boy. So he told Samuel, “Go to bed. If he calls you again, say, ‘Speak, Lord. I am your servant and I am listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in bed. The Lord came and stood there and called as he had before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel said, “Speak, Lord. I am your servant and I am listening.”

1 Samuel 3:6-10

God uses people to speak to us.  He uses his word to speak to us.  When we are unfamiliar with the word of God, we will not be able to hear his voice.

How much of the bible do your read and practice?

Try to read the bible daily and start to keep track of what God is saying to you through scripture.  The more we hear and understand the bible, the more we hear and understand God.