In this last few weeks and if I am honest, the last few months I have been distracted which makes focusing on what God has to say is hard. I have so many thoughts running through my head. Aarti Sequiera described it as “It is so thick in here right now that you could be yelling and I could not hear you.”
She continued the thought with “Yet I know if I could hear one whisper from You all of this would go away.” Let’s focus the remainder of 2023 quieted, listening for God’s whisper.
To quiet my mind I need to eliminate distractions. Distractions can come in many shapes and sizes. Not all distractions or distractors are intended for ill but they are distractions just the same. One way I quiet my mind is to build in moments that offer me a chance to listen for His whisper.
Like Elijah after the fire came through we need to stand at the mouth of the cave and listen. (1Kings 19) Your mouth of the cave should be a place that is conducive to concentration. It can look like a prayer closet, a designated chair in your living room, or a special spot in your kitchen.
Next, I spend a couple of moments clearing my head. Once or twice a day I do a brain dump. I have a notebook that I dump everything from my head into. I will later go back and do something with those items but until I get them out of my head they are a distraction. But just in case there are items still lingering I take time to clear my mind. I know it is true that the more I try to avoid thinking about them the more difficult it is to stay focused so I have to do a brain dump.
Sometimes just sitting in the quiet is all we need to experience His whisper. Other times we need some guidance through his word. Sometimes guided devotionals are nice. Right now I am using the book “Dream Big, Think Small” by Jeff Manion as a guide for my quiet time. (I feel like God chose this book specifically for me and will share more about the book and why I feel that way in a future post.)
The truth is we serve a God that is very personal. He longs to have a relationship with us. Communication with Him is the most important aspect of building this relationship. His whispers often come simply when reading a few passages of scripture.
My distraction over the last few months is a complex situation that had staggering effects on my family and my role in ministry. As Aarti said it was so thick I was having a hard time honing in on His Whisper. I was led to a few passages of scripture that have helped me clear all that was causing the thickness.
1 Peter 4:12 “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Proverbs 4:25 “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.”
2 Timothy 1:7 “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.”
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.”
Isaiah 43:18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.”
I leave you with this prayer…
Loving Father, through your grace allow us to hear your whisper. Remove the thick fog that has overtaken us and the distractions that impede us from hearing you. We acknowledge how awesome You are and we are thankful for your guidance. We know that through you all things are possible. Help us not to dwell on the past but look to our future with you. Amen