Choosing a time to listen to God

God loves to talk. He loves it when we choose to spend time listening to Him. So much fear and false teaching have closed the ears of many Christians. It’s sad. It’s deeper than this. People don’t spend time talking to God either. I think that is why I write on the subject of prayer the most in my blogs. Prayer, talking and listening to God, changes everything. Do you really think that just reading and doing what’s in the Good Book was God’s intention of a relationship? No, me either.

 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:8-9 ESV

When Adam was no where to be found, God said, “Where are you?” God was looking for Adam.

You see, that morning the Great Distraction began. So much was lost that day. The serpent whispered “Did God really say…” He caused Eve to question what God had said and the true intentions of God’s heart.

Satan distracted Adam and Eve and got them questioning God. They were so consumed with figuring out what the deceiver was saying. But why were they even close to the tree in the first place? They may have been curious about that one thing they knew God had said no to. Then the consumption of the “apple” is what got the first man and woman into trouble.

Satan doesn’t want you to talk to God. He wants to distract you from spending time with your creator. He wants to deceive you and cause you to question what God has said to you. God’s adversary still uses distraction/deception today. It’s one of his biggest weapons. And it has worked. Just look at our hyper distracted generation. Even today I’m struggling to write this out because my phone keeps distracting me.

This struggle in our lives is very real. All these questions that others have about God’s truths are rubbing off on us too. There are so many platforms to hear what deceived, doubting and questioning people are saying. And when we listen it leads us to consume more. Why? Because we feel like we need to figure it out for ourselves.

Fasting and Praying

One way I have found to get back into relationship with God is fasting. Fasting is usually food related but it can be an activity or item as well.

I had to ask myself, “What is dragging my mind away from God these days?” For me it was media. So I’ve been on a media fast.

Here is how my fasting experience has gone so far …

Week 1 – I replaced my news watching time with praying while exercising. I was able to tell God what was troubling me.

Week 2 God brought to light things I needed to know, so I ended up journaling a lot. I wanted to write it all down so I could remember what He was teaching me. Communication was open again between us.

Another example of fasting is in David Wilkerson’s book, The Cross and the Switchblade. He talked about how he decided to stop watching nightly television and use that time to pray. He even sold his television. Two weeks afterwards he picked up Life Magazine and saw the story that changed what he focused on for the rest of his life. His daughter cross-stitched this quote, “My dad is famous not for who he is, but because he dared to listen when God wanted to hold conversation.” You can read about this conversation here: https://www.charismanews.com/opinion/40721-giving-in-to-effective-prayer-the-david-wilkerson-story

What is distracting you, ,my friend? What do you need to turn off, put down or get rid of?

Choose a time to talk to God in prayer. I also decided to walk and pray. Then that led me to pick up a pen and write what He was teaching me. For you it may be to turn off the radio during your commute and pray instead. We all lead different lives but we all need a relationship with God.

Let me say it again. God loves to talk. He will share His heart with you if you will take time to listen. He’s calling out to you saying, “Where are you?” Decide to pursue this relationship today.

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you.
Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts,
for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.”
James 4:8 NLT

Kim

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