My church is encouraging us to “give up” our “busyness” during Lent, slowing down long enough to hear God’s voice in our corporate and individual lives.
Wednesday evening was our first Lenten “prayer gathering”; we were encouraged to answer the question, “When are you most likely to hear God’s voice?”
We shared our answers with those around us and found a similarity: Many of us most often hear God’s voice when we are alone. Although we are a very social congregation and enjoy worshiping together, it often takes quiet solitude for us to be quiet and to listen in order to clearly hear God’s voice.
Jesus gave us many examples of how he would go off alone to pray:
Matt 14:23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
Matt 26:36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”
Matt 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
Mark 1:35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Luke 9:18 And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
Can you take 5 minutes each day to get away by yourself and settle your mind in the quiet? Perhaps meditating on a candle or an icon will encourage your listening time with God.
Let’s embrace our solitude, not resenting how little time we have alone with God, but instead rejoicing in our time away to pray and listen for his still, small voice.
If we are quiet and listen, we will hear God’s voice.
Blessings, my friend,
Agatha