A Practical Guide to Hearing From God
This article is by Nick DeCola and published by CRU
We live life at high speed.
Often, we don’t realize how our frenetic pace can influence us. Though technology can benefit us, it can also create noise that makes meeting with God, and hearing from Him, next to impossible.
How Busyness Gets in the Way of Hearing From God
Our world, and perhaps our churches, place a high value on how busy we are as if the winner in the “who’s busiest” sweepstakes gets to wear the badge of honor. On the other hand, we can hear messages that implore us to slow down, simplify and make time for the important things in life, such as spending time with God and our family.
It doesn’t take a keen observer to conclude that the former often wins. As much as we may try to slow down and relax, even our leisure often occurs at a breakneck pace. We understand the need to rest and recharge, but doing so can prove elusive.
While fighting the busyness beast can occur on many battlefronts, I want to highlight one simple exercise that, if practiced consistently, will help bring order to your soul and help you connect with God in the midst of your daily demands.
Do This One Thing to Hear From God
The “Daily Office” is a simple, focused practice in which we set aside time during the day to encounter God. Regardless of our roles in life — harried mom, plumber, teacher, engineer — we can implement this discipline.
I’d recommend starting with a 10-minute chunk of time, perhaps in the morning or at lunch.
Break up this time into the four parts you see in the sidebar. Remember the goal isn’t to get something from God, but rather to spend time with God.
This isn’t about an agenda, but simply moving into the Lord’s invitation to “be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10, English Standard Version).
As you become accustomed to taking the time to slow down with God, you can adapt the elements, duration and time of the day to suit your needs. The “Daily Office” can even be practiced several times a day.