When we do not hear God

Do you ever feel like the Lord is silent? Or at least quiet?

Do we ever feel like we are missing something from Him?

When we do not hear God, could it be that we are not fully listening? And that we are not doing so for an extended amount of time because we grow impatient or think we have something to do? Do we cut Him off by our minds wandering? By our wanting to go do something else we think is important (but really isn’t)? Could it be that we should listen to Him far more, all the time, than what we do? Could it be?

Let me phrase this far more simply:

Do we not hear God because we are not taking the time to fully listen?

Then, there is this:

Who said God has to answer us the moment we desire?

He is not a puppet, and we certainly are not the puppet master.

When was the last time you spent an hour doing nothing but trying to listen to God? How about a day? (Hmm. Isn’t this what Shabbat/Sabbath is for?) How about a weekend?

When was the last time you went about your day and kept an ear turned to the Lord the entire day, while you did things? And isn’t this what we are supposed to be doing all day and night long, every day and night?

I know that I have been very poor about this throughout my life, as much as I wish not to be. There is always room for improvement.

Lately, though… today, though… I realize how much improvement I really need to make.

Prayer: Adonai, Eternal One, Mighty God, Most High, King of kings, Lord of lord, forgive me and my lack of listening. Not trying to fully listen to You, with everything I have and am, is a sin. It is wrong. I want to repent. I need to repent. Will You help me to do so. Will You teach me how to fully listen to You and to stifle the urge that I should be doing something else? Would You help me listen to You as I am doing other things? Will You help me to give You my full attention, no matter where I am, no matter what I am doing? Will You help me do so, starting today? For I cannot to do this without You, as much as I might want to do so. I know I can fail more than I get things right, though I so want to do things right (and am oh, so grateful for grace). Help me make my new aim to listen fully to You in all I do and make a conscious effort to take time throughout my day to stop and listen. And not to interrupt You by saying all kinds of things in my heart. I want to be a woman who listens fully to her God.