Can You Hear Me Now? - Encouragement Café - August 11, 2016

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Can You Hear Me Now?
By Michelle Axton Kelly
Thursday, August 11, 2016

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.  Proverbs 8:17 NIV

I have a confession.  We’ve become that family.  The loud family.  I never noticed until a cross country move delivered us to an apartment unit surrounded by adults with nary a preschooler in sight.

My little girls, possibly sensitive to the changes within our family, are waking up several times a night.  I admit, the consolation I offer them in the wee hours gives way to less patience during the day when sister tantrums erupt, television and computers blare.  As the day turns to evening I crave quiet.  A way to unplug and find peace.  In the past few days I’ve discovered that even the noise from Pinterest and Facebook has become deafening.  So today in a moment of weary desperation, I sat in our car in search of a few simple moments of silence.

As I stumble, coffee in hand through this season, I realize why my ears have become so sensitive.  It is because in the midst of our busy mama days our soul thirsts.  It requires peace and guidance from our Father.  We need that encouraging drink of inspiration where He draws us close to rejuvenate us, don’t we?

Here are three ways I’ve found it helpful to hear God when it becomes difficult in the midst of a busy life:

1. Pray – Ask God to give us quiet moments where we can hear His soft, still voice and reflect.  We can seek His peace, patience and along with it, rejuvenation.  Let’s speak to Him often throughout our day, keeping Him close.
2. Become intentional in disconnecting from the noise of this world.  Leave behind television, smart phones, computers and other distractions when we can.  Foster moments of quiet time within our households or at the library where it is mandatory.
3. Look for His voice in surprising and unconventional ways.  We may desire complete silence to hear Him, yet He can reveal himself in delightful ways when we least expect it.  Look for God’s perfect message crafted just for our needs within a quick devotion, a passing comment, even inspiration that comes via our children.  Let the mystery of how He reveals Himself within our busy world act as a hug from Father to daughter.  He’s letting us know He is always with us.

When you are finding it difficult to carve out a quiet space in life where you can hear God’s soft voice use these three steps to help find His inspiration and peace.  Be intentional in pursuing His voice and fellowship.  God knows our struggles and when we crave Him in our lives.

God, thank You for the blessings that come with a life full of sound.  You have filled our world with so many wonderful moments and yet we know that it is direction from You that sustain us, that provide true hope and inspiration within our world.  Help us to be intentional in seeking Your will and Your voice, glorifying You in everything that we do today.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

He says, Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth. Psalm 46:10 NIV

© 2013 by Michelle Axton Kelly.  All rights reserved.

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