Listening To The Voice That Is Divine
- October 21, 2009
- Category: Daily Diary
- (22) Comments
I wanted to thank every one for your comments. They make make my day brighter in so many ways. Alan asked a question about deepening his prayer life and I wanted to answer on my blog.
Here’s his comment:
“I sure hope your right with the prayers. I’m trying to get my “mustard seed” to get a whole lot larger.
Quote (from my post):
“I learned there is always an answer. Are you asking yourself the right questions?”
Alan:
“…yes, just hard to hear an answer…how do we, without wondering if it’s our own self talk??”
One of the hardest things to do in developing a prayerful life is to still our minds. There’s always something going on whether it’s financial pressures, family life or day to day stresses. I’m no exception. I get distracted all the time.
Yesterday, while visiting Mommanator’s blog, I read a quote by Ernest Hemingway,
“When people talk, listen compeltely. Most people never listen.”
And, it’s true. I think of the recent examples in my life: Mountain Man planning our Ozarks excursion and me, one eye still on the computer, saying “yes dear.” Or watching my favorite television show and ignoring my shepherd who asks to go out. I talk on the phone and at the same time play a game on the computer. Am I listening? No, not really.
And, when I don’t listen, I miss so much. It’s a form of selfishness to be so involved with yourself, you don’t make time to listen.
And, so it is with a prayerful life. How can we hear God if we are always busy with ourselves? And, if we are distracted by our own priorities, I can assure you it is ourselves we hear and not God’s voice.
How do we start to open our hearts and listen? Put down the book when someone talks to you. Play with your child wholeheartedly without one eye on the television. We’ve started listening.
Let’s take it one step farther. What brings you joy? Is it watching your child sleep? Is it a walk in the woods? How does your heart feel in those moments of stillness? That joy is God’s voice. Relax into it, don’t fight it and take it further.
Make some quiet time for yourself each day with no agenda. No, you don’t have to read prayers or start chanting. Just be quiet whether it’s sitting in a chair or out on a walk. What are your thoughts? Stress? Things that need to be done? Acknowledge them and then say goodbye. Be quiet.
Yesterday, I spent time beating myself up for all I had not accomplished and I started comparing myself to others who have so much more material wealth. I got so caught up in my own voice, I spiraled downward. I complained to one of my friends and this is what she wrote:
“J and I were just saying today that things usually turn out for the best even though it doesn’t always look like it will – it’s best not to fight it and just roll with it.”
Perhaps to someone else, it’s just an email from a friend but to me it’s hearing the exact message I needed to hear at that moment. I listened.
Today, this was my reward after day after day of gray weather:
Is it just a sunrise? Perhaps but not to me. If that voice you hear edifies you and lifts you beyond yourself, it is not your voice.
1 Peter Verse 8:
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.”
You are truly listening.
I so understand exactly what you speak of… those still little moments… I have a vivid memory of a Christmas that was not going well at all… It was Sunday and Christmas morning… driving to church with 3 noisy kids and a mound of other issues… yet just before I arrived… I saw a fence row whose posts were covered with new fallen snow, tiny green evergreen peeked out and lined on the fence as well as the tree were cardinals. There color a vibrant red…. I will never forget that moment as it told me right then all would be ok… Thanks for your post and the chance to recall this special moment…
Date: October 21, 2009
Because I fight depression I find it is easy to not realize I am in a depressed state. I also find that grey skies will send me there and I don't realize it. I am able to move, to accomplish and to 'get things done'. But my mind as gone inward to a small closed spot in my brain.
So every night (sometimes I don't make it, but I try), I try to Thank God for five things that happened to me or those I love today that I am THANKFUL for. Just five things…you'll be surprised how hard it is sometimes to find five.
But those five bring me out of myself, the dark hole of my mind. And then I see–something of beauty and wonder, something I would have missed if I had not learned to be thankful.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/
Date: October 21, 2009
I think day after day of gray days can really take a toll on us emotionally, especially when we're feeling a little down about other things around us. Then the sun comes out and we suddenly feel so much lighter in our mood and we see things more clearly again. A beautiful sunrise or sunet is God's gift to us – there's no way you can ignore it no matter what else you're doing – it always reminds me there is a higher power and all that he has given us.
Date: October 21, 2009
When something is on your mind and you do not know the answer and you come across something that speaks to your situation: that's God talking to you. When you open up your Bible to a random page and a scripture addresses your problem: that's God speaking to you. Or, if you visit a friend's blog and what she wrote addresses exactly a problem in my life: that's God speaking to me.
Thank you Alan for your question and Mountain Woman for writing this post. It says something that I needed to hear and, since I have become closer to God, I actually listened and got His message.
Thank you!
Date: October 21, 2009
You speak wise words my friend. Some people call this listening to God, some call it meditation, some call it stillness,… I can only say this is what we all need in this fast running world. And when you're in doubt about what to do, in my experience, it is always best to follow the path that brings you joy, which is often difficult, because many of us our though to bring sacrifice for the joy of others and not to follow our own joy. But how can you make anyone happy if you're not happy yourself…?
Date: October 21, 2009
Those are some beautiful pictures! I bet they don't do the real thing justice. It is good that you can see the true blessing in such things.
Date: October 21, 2009
You're right. It is hard to still our minds and take time to be quiet and still to commune with God each day. Even when I was off work, I thought now I'll have more time to spend with the Lord and what did I do? Used that more time to be on the computer instead. There's just so many things that beg for our attention we tend to give God only a few minutes.
Date: October 21, 2009
Good, good words. I keep telling God what I CANNOT do. But he makes a way for me to walk moment-by-moment in a very difficult situation. He is showing me what I CAN do and equipping me when called upon – which I have been very much lately. Keeps me from much blog visiting and I worry about people thinking I'm ignoring them but there is only one of me.
I know his voice when I feel equipped to walk forward in peace and confidence that I'm not going alone.
Date: October 21, 2009
Great response to a very hard question. I need to make a regular habit of doing this and not just a hapstance! :O)
Date: October 22, 2009
So beautifully said, and the photos are stunning. That sunrise is the most gorgeous I've ever seen.
Date: October 22, 2009
I am so glad that I stopped and read! I have a very bad habit of doing what you posted! I seem to always have only 1 ear open and the other is always thinking or doing something else. It was truly an eye opener for me. Thank you and god bless!
Date: October 22, 2009
I think I just have to remind myself that no one has it easy. We are put here to learn lessons….then the next one…then the next one…
I heard once, that we keep on repeating and stay in the same mistake (lesson) over and over until we learn from it.
I wonder if the wisest man has completed the most number of lessons ?
Date: October 22, 2009
beautiful reward you received! each day they come if we look for them. i enjoyed your post!
Date: October 22, 2009
Beautiful photos as always and this post was beautifully written. This touched me so much
By the way, please stop by my blog when you get the chance, I have something there for you and it's about the inspiration that I find here at your blog my friend
Date: October 22, 2009
Beautiful post, thanks for sharing your peacefulness and prayerfulness.
Bidden or Unbidden, God is There.
Date: October 22, 2009
Just what I needed to hear today, this week, this month, this year.
I thank God every day for the fact that he sent you to me to be a part of my life. And thank you, for being so good at it.
Date: October 22, 2009
A lot to think about.. I am so often better at listening to my animals than humans!
We just live in such a hurry-hurry society.
Over last weekend J and I were at the grocery. A mother was pushing a cart, with her three teenage daughters following behind. She was on the cell phone; the three daughters were each texting on their own cell phones. Such an odd sight
Thanks for a wonderful post. Give yourself a hug from me!
misha
Date: October 23, 2009
"Red Pine Mountain" has been included in this weeks Sites To See. I hope you like the image I featured, and I hope this helps to attract many new visitors here.
http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2009/10/sites-to-see_23.html
P.S.: I noticed in this post that you-all are planning a little excursion to the Ozarks. We live 45 miles north of Branson in Springfield, MO. Would it be somewhere around there that you would be going? If you have already said, sorry, I missed it.
Date: October 23, 2009
And this is just what I needed to read this morning. How true, how unscientific yet a process in its own right, listen, hear…
Love the part about the mustard seed too, I've often wondered about my own.
Thanks for visiting my blog so that I could find yours.
I'm getting ready to contribute to our church's Advent Devotional, mind if I quote you??
oh, btw, the closest I've ever been to heaven is Vermont… My husband illustrates greeting cards for a company in Rochester and we toured the southern part of the state fairly thoroughly; I took a friend's Pentax 6 x 7 camera with me and they are some of my favorite photos still.
Sorry about the long comment:) Your post is very inspiring.
Blessings to you.
Date: October 23, 2009
Amen. This is one of the reasons I love about WY. The quiet. Seeing his beauty in all the wide open space. The beauty of a little flower that survives in the harsh conditions.
Off to look for His beauty!
Date: October 23, 2009
Hi there,
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and leaving your very kind comments! I love this post. There have been so many "AHA!" moments with Him. One that just pops into my mind for some reason this morning was right before Christmas two years ago. One of my students brought me a Christmas present on an afternoon that I was feeling less than joyful! My Dad passed away a week before Christmas in 2001. So, right around December 19th, I get rather teary eyed. Well, on with the story…When I unwrapped the present I gasped! I always gave my daddy a large Whitman's Sampler as one of his Christmas/Father's Day/Birthday…you name it presents because he had such a sweet tooth! Amidst the wrappings, YEP!!! ….a large Whitman's Sampler from my student. I cried with tears of joy because I knew that it was God's way to send Daddy back to me on that cold December day. I called the student and spoke with the mother. She and I both shed a few happy tears that day! Yep, an "AHA" moment with God and my daddy! You have a blessed weekend… and please visit my blog every chance you get. I'll sure be visiting you!
Hugs,
Marilyn
Date: October 24, 2009
When I am down I head outside. Walking is when I am lifted up out of the gloom and reminded of what I should be focusing on – my many blessings! Great post…
Date: October 25, 2009