In Order to Hear God, I Need to Learn to Be Still and Listen

Job 37:14 

“Pause a moment, Job, and listen; consider the wonderful things God does.”(GNT)

The first phase God uses to grow my faith is when he gives me a dream. But to hear this dream, I have to listen for God’s voice—and that means I have to silence the noise around me.

The Bible says God speaks in a still, small voice, so I can’t hear him in the whirlwind of a chaotic life. I can’t hear God with the TV on or when I’m distracted by all the things I need to do today.

I may think God never speaks to me. But perhaps it only seems that God never speaks, because I’m never quiet enough to listen to him!

Something is always going on in my mind—I’m thinking through the week’s schedule, scrolling through social media, or replaying a difficult conversation I had. So while God is trying to get through to me on the telephone of life, he’s getting a busy signal. 

To hear from God, I’ve got to get quiet and reserve time alone with him.

The Bible says in Job 37:14, “Pause a moment, Job, and listen; consider the wonderful things God does” (GNT).

God wants to spend time with me. It’s like he’s saying, “Pause, be quiet, get alone, and learn solitude so I can talk with you.” 

Is knowing God’s dream for my life worth giving him a day? I’ve never taken an entire day to do nothing but be alone with God? 

Here’s what I can do on a day like that: Talk to God in prayer. Let God talk to me through the Bible. Relax. Think. Write down the thoughts he puts in my mind. Set some goals. Look through my schedule. Set my priorities. Spend the day asking, “God, where do you want me to go? What direction do you want me heading?”

Then make a habit of having a quiet time with God each day. It’s tough to spend all day every day in quiet and stillness with God, but I can set aside a short time each day. A daily quiet time looks a lot like what that entire day with God might look like, just shorter.

Remember: God speaks to people who take the time to listen—not just for a day but also on a regular basis. 

I need to set aside some time to be still and quiet with God. It may be surprising how much he wants to say!

Typically my quiet times are short bursts of devotional reading and taking highlight notes. I’m not usually quiet.  I have been waking up at night to use the restroom and not being able to get back to sleep.  I usually spend this time praying and reciting scripture memory or thinking through the training I’m taking. 

In the past I have set aside time to go to a coffee shop or library and review a devotional and think / plan.  In those times I usually get some energy and renewed focus. I need to get back to doing a quiet time before I start work.  This means I’ll have to get up earlier, but I do remember the value I received from those times.