My sheep listen to my voice;I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
You pray, doing all the things you know to do.
You are thankful for your blessings – you even name them one by one.
You follow the model of prayer you were taught, so you know you are “praying properly” because you have an important topic on your heart, and you want God to know how much you need to hear from him, today, right now.
You lay our request out there. Every thought, every reason.
Then you wait. Will it be a vision, his voice or some “divine download” in the form of an idea? Maybe He will bring an opportunity your way as you go through your day.
But you realize nothing. All you hear are the proverbial crickets.
“Where is He when I need him? Does he even hear me? I have asked for (fill in your prayer here) every day, and I don’t hear a thing.”
In our relationship with God, it’s important to remember – it’s a relationship. He is the lover of your soul, creator of you, in His image (how cool is that!).
So what is happening that we hear crickets? There are several possibilities, filters that might be distorting your lens, causing you not to hear what God has to say.
1. The filter of the flesh: When we don’t have the right motive for what we think we need, the request may not be in alignment with God’s will or word.
2. The filter of our relationship with God is one-way. We send up prayer darts but don’t spend quality time in relationship with him, getting to know and understand him. All relationships worth having need nurturing, so we are ready and recognize what he reveals to us – big and small!
3. We have a filter of busyness; We don’t listen. Face it, we are busy, modern women. The constant chatter in our minds sometimes causes us to forget why we went into the other room! Do whatever it takes to stop, spend quality time, and listen. At that moment, you don’t have to fix, solve, or change anything, so the chatter of your to-do list settles down in the background, and listen for His still small voice. It’s there. He’s there.
4. The filter of denial; We aren’t doing what He has already asked us to do. What area or thing in your life has he revealed that your heart is nudging you to correct or change but haven’t? Change can be challenging but remember he equipped you with the Moxie to accomplish anything.
5. The filter of lies; There are times we may be fooled by Satan into thinking we don’t hear from God. The enemy of our souls wants us separated from God, and Satan will do anything to accomplish that – including convincing you that you aren’t hearing from God at all or perhaps second-guess if what you know in your heart is even from God at all.
6. The filter of impatience; Moxie women are on the go and motivated. There may be times He wants us to be content in this season, or for this moment. He isn’t saying no, perhaps merely, not yet. These are the times then to savor.
7. The filter of choice; I learned that God loves us so much that he enjoys us and wants us to flex our free will. That no matter what we choose, it will be the right choice. Can you think of a time when you experienced that?
8. The filter of doubt; We all can be better at trusting God and acting when we hear him or feel the Spirit’s nudge. But how often do we question that nudge when we don’t completely understand it. That is the step of faith, my friend. You may not understand it when you step out but trust that he has more waiting for you than you could ever imagine. There’s a saying that where we doubt is where we don’t trust.
The next time you feel as if you hear crickets – that maybe God took a vacation because you aren’t getting the answer you are praying for – or any answer at all, stop and spend some time with him. Reflect on some of the reasons you may not be hearing. Rest assured, God will never leave or forsake you.
Join in the October 8th virtual workshop “When You Hear Crickets – hearing His voice through the silence” as we dive into these points deeper. This free workshop is presented live 12-1 PM ET. Register today at www.MoxieWorkshops.com or at your convenience through the Moxie Sisterhood Membership site at www.LevelupMyMoxie.com
This Contemplative Photograph
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. Ephesians 1:18
God speaks to us in so many ways. Where do you find Him, how does He speak to you?
Often I find him in the thoughts he places in my heart.
Sometimes I find Him in others.
He is always with us, all around us – opening doors and inviting us to walk through them in faith.
He invites each of us to indulge in time with Him and worship him in our unique way.
He calls us to share His Word and live as He designed us to live, not as the world would have us live.
He has equipped us with a unique vision to see and sense His essence within our hearts, in the world around us, and within others.
When I open my heart to Him with camera in hand, I see him everywhere, His glory and grace – in every detail around me and within others.
It’s in these moments, even with people around me, I’m in communion with Him, seeing with the Eyes of My Heart.
He is there for us to discover and receive and record his gift of creation. To be in awe of His glory visually is a treasure for the eye and the heart. That is what prayerful, meditative devotional photography is.
Vignettes of our awesome God. Scenes, patterns, people, a dance of His Light and form, all for us to treasure with a thankful heart.
What small treasures does He show you as you go about your day? How do you send the simple “thank you” of worship to Him for adding joy and presence to your day? Use that moment, lift your phone, and photograph what he reveals as your act of worship.