I long for His voice to explode into my life and make forever change.
His voice pleases my heart and ear, but I lose His voice in the noise of the day.
I wonder the corridors of my heart, hearing echoes of an empty chamber.
I know He is there. He promises never to leave or forsake me.
Have I left Him? I need to seek Him out with a thirst that nothing else can satiate.
I pray for Him and call out to Him, knowing He will answer even when I fail Him and forsake Him.
He never fails me. He always answers with a loving voice.
When times are difficult, listening for His voice can be hard, but when we realize that listening is not automatic, but a process we draw closer to Him. Sometimes, we have to stop and remain in silence so that we can find God again.
We do this by reaching out in prayer. Simple prayers are best in those quiet times of the day when you can find a moment. As mothers, you know what I mean: while waiting for the pot to boil for the evening meal or while you are waiting in the pickup line at school. Maybe it is the time when the house becomes quiet and peaceful as the last one in the family drifts into sleep. You wait alone in the dark living room to pray and bare your heart to the Lord about your cares and your worries.
After prayer, the waiting comes to hear His voice and feel His presence. It might not happen the first night when worries and darkness are crowding in, maybe even not the second or third nights. His voice and appearance, however, come when He knows it is time.
After the waiting, the receiving flows when He engulfs you in His love and embraces. His Holy Word fills your mind, and you find you can listen and receive it again. During the wait, you prepared for something you cannot explain to anyone else. Somehow, you found strength, reassurance, answers, or maybe just calm. You cling to this moment because you know another storm of noise will come and attempt to drown and destroy your faith.
Cherish moments like these in hard times. You can remember listening to the gentle probing and voice of the Holy Spirit as verse after verse floods your mind, scriptures that you remember from Sunday School or sermons.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
11 I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope.
12 When you call me and come and pray to me, I will listen to you.
13 When you search for me, yes, search for me with all your heart, you will find me.
You can find another beautiful verse to pray in Psalms.
Psalm 143:8
If you wake me each morning with the sound of your loving voice, I’ll go to sleep each night trusting in you. Point out the road I must travel; I’m all ears, all eyes before you.
I wrote this post for the 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes 2019 challenge hosted by Kate Motaung. You can learn more about my series by visiting the series landing page here.
Please also note that I will link this post to blogs listed on my Linkup Parties page.
Now, on to our weekly linkup. First, please follow me on your social media. I love to hear from you: Blog/Facebook/Twitter/Pinterest/ Instagram/Google+.
Next, lets review last week’s linkup.
Last Week’s Top Clicked
“Just Wait: It Gets Harder”
By Barbara Harper at Stray Thoughts
I wish I had read this post when my daughter entered her terrible twos 15 years ago. I love the encouragement that pours from this post for mothers. This post is not to miss!
My Favorite Post
Stand Steadfast in The Shadow of The Mountain
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I haven’t seen that translation of Psalm 143:8 . It’s beautiful. laurensparks.net
Lauren,
So glad you enjoyed the verse. Thanks for commenting.
Mary Hill recently posted…31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Day 17: Walking Consistently with Christ
The voice of God really does work wonders! Thanks for this reminder. Many blessings to you!
Boma recently posted…What’s your point of reference?
Prayer is such a comfort.
Mary, I must apologize, on cleaning out my spam folder recently I found a message from you sent at the beginning of last year. Thus, the delay in its acknowledgement.
Blessings,
Jennifer
Tea With Jennifer recently posted…Beware, be safe, it’s very real!
It is okay. I know I probably have comments in my spam folder, too, that should not be there. Thanks for stopping by and supporting me.
Mary Hill recently posted…31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Day 17: Walking Consistently with Christ
Prayer is such a gift!
I agree. Thank you for your faithful support.
Mary Hill recently posted…31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Day 17: Walking Consistently with Christ
Yes, it’s easy to lose his voice in the noise of the day. I appreciate your advice that we need to be patient when we’re listening. Sometimes it’s easy to give him 5 minutes and then give up, but growing in relationship takes time and devotion.
Lisa thanks for your support. I agree. Making that time for growing our relationship with Christ is so important.
Mary Hill recently posted…31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Day 17: Walking Consistently with Christ
It’s so important to know His presence with us is based on His promises and not our feelings, isn’t it? And so important to meditate on His Word during those times of quiet before Him. Thanks for hosting, Mary.
Donna Reidland recently posted…“Should You Follow Your Heart?” October 14
Donna, thank you for this critical distinction. It is so true.
Mary Hill recently posted…31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Day 17: Walking Consistently with Christ
May we all remember to take time to stop and soak in His word and spend time in prayer. I find my attitude is much better throughout the day when I take time to remember He is with me and He listens to my prayer and gives me strength. Blessings to you, dear Mary!
I so agree. Mine too. I tend to spend time at night though. I should try morning prayers too. Thanks for your support.
Mary Hill recently posted…31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Day 17: Walking Consistently with Christ
Amen! What a precious Lord we have, who understands us so well. I love how you said that He knows the best time for us to receive from Him, because we get so impatient to hear what we want to hear. But the waiting is so important. He is right there waiting with us. Thank you for these encouraging words today, Mary. Blessings to you this week.
Blessings to you too. Thanks for commenting. I agree the waiting is so important.
Mary Hill recently posted…31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Day 17: Walking Consistently with Christ
It’s true! Jeremiah’s well-loved words from God came to Israel in a dark time. It’s tempting to interpret darkness or the silence of God as abandonment, but he is faithful. Thanks, Mary, for persevering in listening for his voice.
Michele,
I loved your comment and the context of the verse. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and your faithful support our community.
Mary Hill recently posted…31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Day 17: Walking Consistently with Christ
Beautiful post, Mary. I love that point that listening is not automatic. It has to be international. So often through the Bible, God calls people to hear or listen.
I’m blessed to know that my post about encouraging moms was helpful.
Barbara Harper recently posted…Do you want to be near God?
Barbara,
Thank you so much for your faithful posts each week. Your points are so true.
Mary Hill recently posted…31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Day 17: Walking Consistently with Christ
Sometimes I forget it is a process. I think I can just put my quarter in and get the gumball I was hoping for. But that’s a machine not a relationship.
God wants us in relationship.
Rebecca Hastings recently posted…When You Want to be Someone You’re Not
I love the gumball analogy. Thanks for sharing and your faithful support.
Mary Hill recently posted…31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes Day 17: Walking Consistently with Christ