Listen for God's voice

What voice are you listening to today?

Voices come from many different directions.

If we’re married, we hear the voice of our spouse. If employed, the voice of our boss. If learning in school, the voices of teachers and professors. If reading a book, the voice of the author.

There are verbal voices and nonverbal voices.

People’s words are usually easy to notice. Their voice is verbal. It's the nonverbal voices we need to pay special attention to because they are just as influential, yet often not noticed.

There is the voice of hope and positive expectation. That's a good voice to listen to. But there’s the voice of discouragement, dismay, and despair. This voice is not a healthy guide to follow.

There’s the voice of love, care and compassion. There’s the voice of hate, apathy and anger.

There’s the voice of health, harmony and peace. There’s the voice of sickness, disease, and chaos.

There’s the voice of honesty and integrity. There’s the voice of dishonesty and deceit.

There’s the voice of God. There’s the voice of the carnal mind leading thought away from God.

There’s the voice of Good. There’s the voice of evil.

Which voice are you listening to? Which voice is guiding you? Which voice do you honor with your attention and devotion?

In Truth, there is only one voice, the voice of God. All other claims to authority diminish and cease until they are heard no more.

Until the full realization of Good’s totality is understood, it is wise to ask, “What voice am I listening to today?”

Listen to God, as you navigate through the day--and plan for the New Year! And you’ll be led aright.


“The voice of the Lord is powerful.” Psalms

God gets our attention

Here at our cabin, I have an office next to the workroom downstairs. In the workroom there is a space heater with a fan we leave on while the cabin is vacant in order to keep the plumbing and water heater from freezing in the winter cold. It’s set to run when the temperature hits 40 degrees.

Last Tuesday, I was working in my office and I heard the heater turn on.

I thought, “That is odd. The heater is set to run at 40 degrees, and it’s over 65 in that room. Why is the heater running?”

I went to the room to inspect the heater and found absolutely nothing wrong with it. It turned off when I picked it up and every part appeared in working order.

As I puzzled over the oddity, I glanced across the room and saw a pond of water at the base of the water heater. What a mess! I dropped all concerns about the space heater and raced to deal with a mini-water disaster about to form. To make a longer story short, the leakage is contained, we have a plumber on the way, all is under control, and we still have hot water. I'm grateful for that!

Later, at dinner, though, I was rethinking the series of events that afternoon, and commented to the family how odd it was for the space heater to turn on at such a high temperature.

Then the pieces fell together.

I decided that the noise of the heater was God’s way of getting my attention. Without it, I would have remained oblivious to the Lake Erie about to appear in our basement and spread into adjoining carpeted rooms.

Sometimes it surprises me how God works, but I’m grateful every time I see divine wisdom in action.

God has a way of getting our attention, if necessary. Of course, we have to be listening! That’s our job… And I was listening at the time, actively engaged in prayer for patients near and far. I think I'll keep working at it...for it helps not only them, but me too!

Listening for God's direction

When making a critical decision, how do you know if you’re listening to God or to blind human will?

This can feel like a tough call to make at times. Last Thursday was one such occasion here on the family front.

Jenna was scheduled to travel to Seattle for a major four day swim meet with her team. Two carloads of swimmers were scheduled to depart that day, each vehicle driven by a coach with 6-8 swimmers in each.

In our part of the country right now, some major freezing stormy weather has descended from the North Bering Sea putting the Seattle area into a traffic-stopping mess, and roads between our home and the population center into icy formidable conditions. In normal weather, it takes 4 hours for us to drive west to the coast, and traverse a high mountain pass in between.

Jenna had worked hard for months to prepare for this meet, had reached exceptional times to qualify, and had been very much looking forward to the event. When the day of departure arrived, the “little voice within” was telling mom and I that we should keep her home. But to tell Jenna the bad news was heartbreaking to consider.

The head swim coach was determined to go storm or no storm at 9 a.m., and the other coach would follow after school with a second carload of girls. Jenna was in the second group, which meant she’d be on the highway in the dark for several hours. Chains were required for 40 miles of the trip, even on 4 wheel drive vehicles.

Mom and I prayed together weighing all the options and considering both sides of the situation, and still the little voice within said, “Keep her home.”

It was a tough prayer because one side argued, “The roads are obviously bad. Stay home.” But the other side argued, “You can make this demonstration. Pray for her safety. Know all will be well. They’ll travel slowly, but they’ll also make it safely.”

See what I mean?

We weren't sure whether we were caving to fear or listening to wisdom.

To stay home seemed like admitting defeat, to a degree, possibly conceding to a mortal mind effort to stop Jenna from participating in a marvelous swim opportunity.

But the voice of wisdom cried, “Don’t tempt the Lord! The roads are dangerous and its not wisdom to push activity beyond the range of what you’re not confident in demonstrating with absolute certainty.”

In making a decision about my daughter’s safety, I did not believe there was room for even a slight chance. I would send her to the coast, only if I was absolutely sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that all would be well. And I did not have that absolute certainty.

Then mom had a great idea. She said, “Let’s talk to Jenna about it.” So we went into her room and told her the thoughts and concerns we were wrestling with. We told her honestly that we weren’t sure what the best decision was. We asked for her opinion.

She agreed that wisdom said she ought to stay home. We talked about not missing out on opportunities when making the apparently right decision at the moment. And to our delight, she agreed to stay home and let it all go. She was quite free about calling the coach and telling her to leave without her.

As scheduled, both carloads departed on time that day and headed for Seattle with all but 2 of the swimmers—our daughter and one other whose parents had come to the same conclusion as we did.

The weather got worse that day as the hours advanced. It took drivers 8 hours to make a 4 hour trip. They did make it safely, as we expected! And this is an interesting part of this decision. We told Jenna that if we let her go, we figured she would arrive safely. It would take a long time, but she would arrive without harm. And if she stayed home and the rest went, they would all arrive safely too, swim, and get back home safely. But it just felt like it was wise to stay home. This was as far as we could mentally see at the moment.

Jenna made other plans that evening with friends, and when she got home, we quizzed her about the carloads of swimmers and how long it took to get to Seattle. Teenagers these days are constantly in touch with each other through texting. Now that’s a whole other blog…

She casually replied, “Oh yeah, they all arrived safely, but the meet got canceled.”

Suddenly, I knew we had listened clearly. It was obvious at this point, the roads in Seattle were so terrible, that even local residents couldn’t get to the meet. The authorities hadn’t figured that out until late in the evening. But the voice of wisdom had it figured out much earlier in the day.

I was humbled for it had been a very tough call between acting wisely and not caving to fear.

How to tell the difference? One word comes to mind—peace.

When trying to decide what to do, I searched for peace within about my decision. If I felt any turbulence, angst, or tension, I knew I hadn’t listened clearly to God yet. Every time I thought about sending Jenna over, I felt a degree of tension within.

When I sided with keeping her home, I knew she would miss a key event, but I also knew there were no lost opportunities, and Jenna came to that conclusion too. We all felt the greatest peace together about staying home. We did not collectively feel peace about her going.

The Bible tells us, "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left."

God is always telling us what to do. The challenge is to be in such a calm and receptive state of mind that we clearly hear the divine direction. To hear clearly, we must silence impatience, anger, and even fear for these are attitudes of stubborn mortal mind that blind reason to the way of wisdom.

It was tough to hold Jenna home when 95% of the team went without her. But the inner voice said, “Don’t send her.” And a great peace took over when we agreed to listen. In the end, we were glad we listened. And the rest of the team made it home safely, as expected! But a bit road weary for the adventure.

Listening with understanding

(This is a chuckle, chuckle...)

Are you a married woman who ever felt like your husband listened to you but didn’t hear you?

Or, are you a husband who once thought you heard your wife correctly, but didn't?

If so, you both can probably relate to this story…


TO BE 6 AGAIN

A man was sitting on the edge of the bed, observing his wife turning back and forth, looking at herself in the mirror. Since her birthday was not far off, he asked what she’d like to have for her birthday. I’d like to be six again, she replied, still looking in the mirror.

On the morning of her birthday, he arose early, made her a nice big bowl of Lucky Charms, and then took her to the Six Flags theme park.

What a day!

He put her on every ride in the park; the Death Slide, the Wall of Fear, the Screaming Monster Roller Coaster…everything there was. Five hours later they staggered out of the theme park. Her head was reeling and her stomach felt upside down.

He then took her to a McDonald’s where he ordered her a Happy Meal with extra fries and a chocolate shake. Then it was off to a movie, popcorn, a soda pop, and her favorite candy, M&Ms.

What a fabulous adventure!

Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed exhausted.

He leaned over his wife with a big smile and lovingly asked, “Well dear, what was it like being six again?”

Her eyes slowly opened and her expression suddenly changed.

I meant my dress size, not my age!


Uh-oh...

Listening and hearing can be two different activities. In the glossary to her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy defines common day terms from a metaphysical point of view. For the definition of ears she wrote, “Not organs of the so-called corporeal senses, but spiritual understanding.”

Ears are for more than listening. They were created for understanding. As we seek to better understand what we hear, we’ll act with greater wisdom and discernment.

And that could be a good tip for us husbands who sometimes think we heard correctly, but really didn't!

Never again,...right!??

Are we listening?

One of the most precious gifts we can give another is that of a listening ear. Not just a swift side-glance, a brief acknowledgment of their presence or a quick nod of approval. But a sincere concern and care for what the other is trying to tell us.

I notice my children are much more responsive when I stop what I’m doing, look them in the eye and pay rapt attention to their ideas and thoughts when they want to talk. The long term dividends of a deeper relationship and a stronger bond of affection and care between us is more than worth the time and effort it takes to stop and listen when they yearn for my hear.

The same rule applies to listening to God. The divine voice is speaking to us at all times, sending angel thoughts in our direction that lead, guide and heal us. Sometimes we may need to ask, "Am I listening?"

How well we listen to our neighbor could be a sign of how well we listen to God. It seems to me, the two might be related!

"This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger." James

As we silence the noise and distraction of ego, self-concern, pride, self-centeredness, and self-righteousness, we hear the voice of God more clearly. Our Father's voice may be speaking in the form of subtle intuitions, inklings or nudges in thought. It also may be speaking through a neighbor’s wisdom and insights. Wherever it is coming from, as we talk less and listen more, we’ll hear what we need to know.

"According to Christian Science, the only real senses of man are spiritual, emanating from divine Mind. Thought passes from God to man, but neither sensation nor report goes from material body to Mind. The intercommunication is always from God to His idea, man." Mary Baker Eddy

Healing power of listening

"With the gift of listening comes the gift of healing."

~ Catherine de Hueck

In an often quoted old nursery rhyme, William Edward Norris wrote:

“If your lips would keep from slips, five things observe with care: To whom you speak; of whom you speak; and how, and when, and where.”

"Because listening can bring about such powerful healing, it is one of the most beautiful gifts that people can give and receive."

On Listening, by Professor Carl Faber, Ph.D.

“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalms

Gift of listening

From “The Gift of Listening,” by Anne Murchison:

• A good listener listens with spiritual ears open, hearing and understanding the spirit beneath the words.
• A good listener listens with the heart and mind still and the mouth shut.
• A good listener listens with compassionate spiritual eyes.
• A good listener listens with no personal agenda, maintaining involved eye contact.
• A good listener listens with compassionate spiritual eyes, maintaining involved eye contact.
• A good listener listens with a compassionate heart.
• A good listener listens with an attentive heart.
• A good listener listens with committed heart.
• A good listener listens without judgment.
• A good listener listens without fear.
• A good listener listens with faith, knowing that the Spirit of God is at work to will and do according to His good purpose.
• A good listener waits patiently, quietly and prayerfully through times of silence, making room for the unfolding of things previously too deep and too painful to even know or express.
• A good listener counts it a privilege to witness a soul in the process of transformation, even when it doesn't look like it.
• A good listener offers to explore options.
• A good listener offers to pray when the time of tears and sharing ends.
• A good listener waits to give advice until asked.
• A good listener offers a hug.
• A good listener recognizes that these are holy moments of eternal consequence.
• A good listener keeps all holy moments completely confidential.
  
  
  
  

Are you or God doing the talking?

Found an excellent piece by Linda Douty on silencing all the noise in our head that prevents us from hearing the voice of God. She points out that external commotion is only one distraction to spiritual communion with the divine. There are other types as well, including our own talking, orally and internally.

While praying have you ever removed yourself from all external noise but still had a mind full of confusion, argument, dismay and worry? That’s the internal voice of mortal mind still chattering away preventing us from listening to God. We need a total lockdown on mortal thoughts to truly hear God and discern the divine direction.

And there’s the other aspect of being physically quiet and filling thought with praise and gratitude, but perhaps, still not truly listening to God.

Douty comments,

“…we can't hear God if we're constantly talking; so we commit to spending more time in prayer and solitude. Even then, we are apt to fall into a distorted definition of silent, listening prayer—one in which our mind keeps talking to God, petitioning, thanking, adoring—good things, certainly, but still prayers controlled by us, the product of OUR efforts. We've simply decided to close our lips! And the internal chatter continues..."

Who’s doing the talking in your thought today--you or God?

God is watching out for you

A friend went for a walk through the woods on a very windy evening recently. Part way down the trail a mental nudge stopped him in his tracks. He looked down and saw his shoelace untied. As he bent to string his shoes a big oak tree fell crashing across the path in front of him. He stood in awe thanking God for keeping him out of harm’s way.

God is watching out for you.

Have you ever been barely spared from disaster or loss by what you called a convenient twist of fate or favorable happenchance? There is no twist of fate, and there is no happenchance. God is an ever-present guide protecting you from danger and keeping you safe wherever you go and in whatever you do.

Heed the divine nudges when they come. Humbly listen to the angel voices when they seek attention. They are God’s means of steering you aright.