Friend and mentor Kevin Harney recently asked me about listening to God. I had to be honest and say that I’m not sure I hear God like I used to. I wondered whether this was because of sin or a stubbornness in my response. However, I came to see that the primary reason was because I wasn’t making time to listen.

I like to maximise every moment. I was praying and reading Scripture in the morning but not pausing to listen. I listen to a news podcast on my ride to work. I listen to audiobooks while I’m running. I love music in the car. I review preachers while I’m cooking dinner. The question is, how can I ever hear God if my life is only ever filled with noise?

It’s led me to experiment with sitting for 10 minutes at the start of my day in silence. I set the timer on my watch and pray a simple prayer like, “Holy Spirit come.” Some days it feels like a fight to keep my brain in check. But there are also moments when God seems to bring something to mind.

I’ve also tried driving in silence and running without an audiobook. In fact, it was as I was running in silence that my mind began to wander and I planned this blog post. I have learned that the rhythm of running in silence gives my mind the freedom to wander and seems to create space where God can speak.

It’s important too for this mission we’re on. Silence is a place where God can remind me of something I haven’t done. God can bring a person or situation to mind that he wants me to pray about. He can confront an area of sin where he desires repentance. He can remind me of his great love for me and for the whole world.

I recently heard a talk on King David where the speaker suggested that he was formed in a place of silence, shepherding sheep in the wilderness. Moses too spent 40 years with little more sound than the bleating of sheep. Even Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness and often withdrew to lonely places. Could it be that God prepares his people not so much in the noise and busyness but in silence and solitude.

How aware are you of the nudges and whispers of God? Where and when can you make space to hear Him more clearly?

Much love,
Simon

This post is part of the Senior Pastor’s weekly blog. Go to the blog feed >>

Silence & Solitude