What does it mean to “listen to God” when what we will hear in response will likely not be spoken words or even a “still, small voice” (1 Kings 19:12)? What are we listening for? The campus minister at my college began all her extemporaneous prayers with words I loved: “Let’s become aware of the presence of God.” Then she would pause a second or two before continuing.
Becoming aware of the presence of God is a kind of listening: stopping for a moment (or more) to notice the presence and closeness of God around us. We may not hear a voice, but we may sense an assurance, receive an insight, or just feel invited to “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Some Christians practice listening to God in a more formal way, as with mediation or centering prayer. But listening for God or becoming aware of the presence of God can also be simple. Are there ways you notice God in the ordinary details of your daily life and surroundings?
This message is excerpted from “On the knees, off the chest” by Heidi Haverkamp in the July/August 2021 Gather magazine.
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