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Listening to God w/out Distraction - 8/4/2008 11:26:27 AM
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ChelaW
Posts: 117
Joined: 7/30/2008
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I'm going through a difficult time right now because of a tough situation. Lately I've read everywhere that we need to allow time during our prayers to quiet our hearts and just listen to God.
I've tried that. Really. Every night last week. But I honestly have NO idea how to quiet my heart enough to hear him. First of all, I get distracted and my mind starts wandering. Then, I hear all sorts of "voices", some from the enemy, which are sometimes obvious, and some just from my own head.
The only time I've actually knowing heard the voice of God was when I was deep in praise and worship...of course I pick-up His "voice" through sermons and whatnot.
How do you quiet your heart to listen to God?
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RE: Listening to God w/out Distraction - 8/5/2008 6:51:24 AM
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TJO5
Posts: 189
Joined: 12/1/2007
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ChelaW
I'm going through a difficult time right now because of a tough situation. Lately I've read everywhere that we need to allow time during our prayers to quiet our hearts and just listen to God.
I've tried that. Really. Every night last week. But I honestly have NO idea how to quiet my heart enough to hear him. First of all, I get distracted and my mind starts wandering. Then, I hear all sorts of "voices", some from the enemy, which are sometimes obvious, and some just from my own head.
The only time I've actually knowing heard the voice of God was when I was deep in praise and worship...of course I pick-up His "voice" through sermons and whatnot.
How do you quiet your heart to listen to God?
It may sound strange but the best way I have found to quiet my heart is to lay back in a bathtub with my eyes closed until the water covers my ears.
No distractions come through at that time.
Yours in Christ,
T.J.
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RE: Listening to God w/out Distraction - 8/5/2008 12:21:10 PM
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Liveloved
Posts: 1916
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Chela,
I started to respond to this post last night but didn't have time to complete my response. I'm glad some others have given their thoughts.
Have you heard of lectio divina? It is an old practice that actually the Lord taught me before I knew what it was and that others have been practicing for years.
Lectio divina (pronounced LEX-see-o dee-VEE-nah) literally means 'divine reading'. It is a slower, less hurried, more contemplative way of reflecting on God's word so that transformation results. It is a deep listening and patient waiting for God to personally reveal truth to us. And He does. The Apostle Paul commended the believers at Thessalonica because they received "from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe." IThess 2:13
Anyway there are lots of good resources out there to explain lectio to you in greater detail. But basically you begin by (1) quieting yourself for five minutes. When thoughts come, I just say "I love You, Lord" or "thank You, Jesus" to quiet myself again. Then you (2) read a passage of scripture. Read it slowly. Don't take on too much. Let it sink in but don't let your active pondering begin. One teacher uses the illustration of walking in a flower garden. At this point you're just gazing on the beauty of the flowers. Looking but not touching, examining, or studying. James gives us good guidance here. He tells us to "in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls."(1:21) This is when I (3) just sit quietly for maybe fifteen minutes and let the word do its work in me. This is that abiding time when we trust God to be working out our salvation in us and for us through His word. Don't be thinking about or processing what you have read. Let it sink in and take root on its own. And when thoughts or distractions come, return by saying "I love You, Lord" or "thank You, Father" or "bless You, Lord."
Once you've let the word rest in the soil of your heart, you're ready to interact with it. (4) Read the scripture again and now you get to pick the flowers! Look at it intently. Listen. Let God speak to you as you gaze on and study. And finally (5) respond to all you have done---this is the take home lesson. What do you most want to remember from your time with the Lord today? One thought? One word? An attitude? A song? You can write it down and do more processing if you want to or you can get up and let Him live out His life in you.
That's a simple little paraphrase of lectio. I've found it immensely helpful as it leads me into a quiet listening relationship with Him. I pray you find that place of quiet He desires for you, LL
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RE: Listening to God w/out Distraction - 8/5/2008 12:31:39 PM
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JJB1222
Posts: 227
Joined: 7/16/2008
From: where the mountains meet the sea, Puget Sound.
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ChelaW
I'm going through a difficult time right now because of a tough situation. Lately I've read everywhere that we need to allow time during our prayers to quiet our hearts and just listen to God.
I've tried that. Really. Every night last week. But I honestly have NO idea how to quiet my heart enough to hear him. First of all, I get distracted and my mind starts wandering. Then, I hear all sorts of "voices", some from the enemy, which are sometimes obvious, and some just from my own head.
The only time I've actually knowing heard the voice of God was when I was deep in praise and worship...of course I pick-up His "voice" through sermons and whatnot.
How do you quiet your heart to listen to God?
I'm struggling with it, too. I want so badly to hear the voice of God. In fact, I sometimes beg Him to speak to me. He must get so frustrated with that, because deep down I know he's speaking...I'm just not listening.
Right now, I'm reading the book Battlefield of the Mind, by Joyce Meyer. Actually the chapter I read yesterday was about this exact struggle..the wandering mind. She states that the inability to concentrate indicates mental attack from the devil. She says that she had to train her mind to stay on track. Part of the process was confronting the issue and identify that we have a problem staying on track. When our minds start to wander, say like when we're in church listening to the sermon and start thinking about what to make for lunch, we have to train ourselves to identify those moments as the devils way of distracting us. Even though we aren't thinking of anything sinful, he is still trying to get at us through distraction...keeping us from God.
I like the idea of being under water! What ever works, right? 
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RE: Listening to God w/out Distraction - 8/5/2008 6:43:32 PM
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purplepearl
Posts: 14
Joined: 8/2/2008
Status: offline
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1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a
9 There he came to a cave, where he took shelter. But the word of the LORD came to him, "Why are you here, Elijah?" 10 He answered: "I have been most zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts, but the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to the sword. I alone am left, and they seek to take my life." 11 Then the LORD said, "Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by." A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD--but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake--but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was fire--but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. 13 When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave.
ChelaW - you are still seeing the wind, earthquake and the fire. The Lord will speak to you in a whispering voice in His own divine time. One of the things that I have learned when I pray is that God doesn't usually reveal things to ME, personally, during this time. For myself, I pray making my requests known and praising our God. He usually reveals the answer to me at a later date. Seek the Lord's face and reveal to Him your requests. Be still and know that He is Lord and know that he will speak to you in due time. You are learning to wait on the Lord. You are not doing anything wrong. You are just learning discernment and patience. The Lord will pass by. Give it time. A week, frankly, is nothing. You could be in for a long haul. Be faithful and do not give up. He is with you.
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RE: Listening to God w/out Distraction - 8/5/2008 8:40:53 PM
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beachcooky
Posts: 893
Joined: 6/21/2008
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For me, I listen to worship music very quietly and I just sit there quietly, close my eyes, and not listen to the words but relax my mind and try to hear God. It probably won't work on a lot of people...but it helps me.
I used to not live at home because of how my family treated me, so I ran away at age 15. Abuse was in the house, just towards me and no one else. But anywho, I went to stay with some friends of mine for a few years. And I had a favorite spot to be with God. It's going to be strange, but it was a baseball field. It's old and no one has played on it for several years. But when I felt I had to be with God alone, I went to that place and just sat on the bleacher and just sit in silence and just feeling God's love.
If you have a favorite place, go to that. If it's outdoors, bring a blanket and put it on the ground and lay down on it, closing your eyes. Just relax. Try not to think of anything else.
_____________________________
www.myspace.com/xsweetheartforux
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RE: Listening to God w/out Distraction - 8/5/2008 8:54:11 PM
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didionid
Posts: 5
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When I start to get distracted, I'll start praising God through as many of his names as I can think of. Sometimes I'll also pray over "be still and know that I'm God."
It's also important for me that I not worry about "hearing" God, trying to make it happen. When something to pray about enters my mind, I often believe that the Holy Spirit put the idea there. That's enough "hearing" for me.
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RE: Listening to God w/out Distraction - 8/5/2008 9:51:14 PM
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colliefan
Posts: 2789
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: Raleigh, NC
Status: offline
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I, too, have benefited from lectio divina and use its parsing of words/phrases in my prison ministry.
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RE: Listening to God w/out Distraction - 8/5/2008 11:19:29 PM
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sunshine4God
Posts: 7134
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Sterling Ct.
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: JJB1222
quote:
I'm struggling with it, too. I want so badly to hear the voice of God. In fact, I sometimes beg Him to speak to me. He must get so frustrated with that, because deep down I know he's speaking...I'm just not listening.
I can totally relate to that whole statement.I have a d d and have an heck of a time really listening to anyone,but I especially want to hear Gods voice. I need to learn to be quiet before God and listen also.
_____________________________
Matthew 5:16.
"Let your light so shine before men that they will see
your good deeds and glorify your Lord".
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RE: Listening to God w/out Distraction - 8/6/2008 9:42:36 AM
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Wild-Rose
Posts: 412
Joined: 1/11/2006
From: Upstate NY
Status: online
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quote:
Sometimes I have to keep a pencil and paper at hand, and when bothersome things pop into my mind, I say "Excuse me a minute, Lord" and write them down.
I agree with many ideas here. This one idea about writing things down really helps me. You just write down "Remember to take meat out of the freezer" and then you don't think about dinner again. It helps me to relax and not think about things that I don't need to worry about. Once you get all your worries down on paper then it frees your mind to focus on God.
_____________________________
Wild-Rose
Rejoice that your name is written in heaven. Luke 10:20
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