We all have times when it would be nice to just hear clearly from God wouldn’t it?

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “You know, I’ve never heard God. I don’t know why I pray. I’m not sure he’s there.”

And you know, I believe them.

Yet frankly, as we looked at previously, God won’t yell through the chaos that engulfs our lives most of the time.

Only when we take time to truly quiet down and listen will we hear his voice.

Jesus modeled this over and over.

When his cousin John was murdered he left the crowds and went to a remote place to be alone. There God helped him sort things out.*

When he needed to choose the disciples, who would carry on his mission, he spent a night by himself in prayer and God gave him the list.

When he faced execution he spent several hours in prayer and God gave him courage.

When he was exhausted and feeling overwhelmed he went apart by himself and God restored him.

God promises we can hear from him in the same way.

What might happen if we slowed down long enough to listen?

*Matthew 14: 13

I’ve found out the hard way God won’t interrupt my busyness. He won’t compete for my attention.

I’ve built several businesses and a church. So I know about pressurized life.

Yet, I’ve learned that no matter how great the demands I need to carve out time to listen if I wanted to hear God’s quiet inner voice.

While I fix breakfast I pray and listen. No TV, no radio.

While driving to my office the same thing.

On the weekends I get away from my computer, phone and TV. As I’m working around the house I can pray, think and listen.

In the evening while I’m getting ready for bed I read my Bible for a few minutes and often just ponder the day.

See I think we all have plenty of opportunities to be quiet enough to hear God. But we need to proactively set aside time for it.

Even Jesus had to. After he heard that his cousin John had been murdered he went in a boat on the Sea of Galilee to a remote area to be alone with God.*

Maybe that’s why he heard from God and often we don’t.

*Matthew 14: 13

I’m guessing most of us on occasion would really like to hear from God.

We face a bewildering challenge that we can’t get a handle on. Wouldn’t it be really nice to hear God’s directions clearly? I mean maybe even audibly even though a little spooky?

Yet, think about for many of us our typical daily routine.

First thing we check emails and turn on the news.

We whip down breakfast chatting with the family briefly as everyone races to get out the door.

Then commute listening to our phones or the radio.

At work we’re barraged with conversations and activity.

At the end of the day we drag into the house exhausted.

Visit with the family over dinner.

Turn on the TV and vegetate until it’s time for bed.

Then we feel confused because we never seem to hear from God. Oh, we slip in a prayer now and then but we think, “He just never seems to answer.”

Yet, I learned a long time ago, and sometimes need to relearn, that God won’t intrude into our chaos.

He’ll let us live in the tyranny of full throttle life if we want.

Or we can step out of it to listen and hear a quiet voice.