What Is God Saying to Me?

Over the past two days, we’ve been reflecting on listening, and we continue that theme today.

Several years ago, I taught a class on Marjorie Thompson’s book, “Soul Feast.” In the book, she makes the point that even though God sometimes speaks directly to people like Samuel, God most often speaks to us without words. 

Sometimes God also speaks through our life experiences. Thompson puts it this way. She writes, “God opens some doors and closes others. A troubling relationship may invite us to attend to something we have not fully faced in ourselves. Through the wisdom of our bodies, God tells us to slow down or reorder our priorities. The happy coincidences and frustrating impasses of daily life (can be saying something to us). It is a good habit to ask, ‘What is God saying to me in this situation?

Another pastor I read recently talks about how God will often speak to us while reading the Bible, or in the silence that follows a spoken prayer. He said: “When we come before God with our needs and concerns, we can trust that God listens… Then it’s important that we pause and wait for a few moments to see if God has something to say to us. Pay attention to what God puts on your heart.”

He said, “Remember, God has concerns, too. They may be concerned about how we are living our lives. It may be about someone in our family who needs our attention. It may be about something that needs to be done in the church or in the community. Give God a chance to speak. Take time in your prayer life to listen.” 

I have found that building in a little silence and a little reflection each day can go a long way.

There is this great line, in Psalm 81, God says, “O Israel, if you would but listen to me, I would feed you with the finest wheat; with honey from the rock, I would satisfy you.”  

In other words, there is a fullness of life that God wants for us – a peace that comes only when we listen… and follow.

Let us pray: God of hope, we pause even now for just a moment in your presence. Help us to carve out time apart with you. Grant us open ears, and open hearts, that we would be attuned to your peace and guidance; through Christ our Lord. Amen.