Listening

[Chaplain Steve Fox]

We arrived at an airport in Scotland and boarded a shuttle to the hotel about five minutes away. Bags in hand we checked in with the attendant at the front desk and asked for directions to our rooms. The young woman replied, "Take a right and go down the hallway to the left. To our frustration, at the end of the hall was a sports bar on the right and locked double doors on the left. One of our party went back to confirm the directions -- the same. We all returned to the front desk and asked again. The woman looked at us strange and said, " to the lift, to the lift". The Scottish accent got us. Of course she meant the elevator.

God is constantly speaking to people. But too often, they miss out on hearing God’s messages because they seek His guidance only occasionally – usually when they’re going through a crisis or facing a major decision. Then, with a dire need to hear from God, people become confused and frustrated when they don’t clearly hear what they should do.

It doesn’t have to be that way. God wants everyone to hear His messages clearly, and it’s possible to do so. The key is to forget about formulas and gimmicks for hearing from God, and to focus instead on developing the kind of relationship with God that will empower you to hear God speaking regularly. The closer you get to God, the more you can enjoy ongoing conversations with Him, and the more God will use those conversations to transform you into the person He wants you to become.

“Let him who has ears to hear listen…”