The Christmas season is upon us and thoughts of trimming trees, spending time with family and finding the perfect gift fills our minds. During this time, we go about our daily lives with our smartphones close by, ear plugs in our ears, and racing from home to work, work to the gym, off to run a few errands and home again. All the way, we have music, radio, TV and text messages keeping our minds full every second, until we turn off the light and go to sleep. It’s the daily rush and Christmas just turns up the volume.
So how do we hear from God and His Spirit during these times? How can He get through to us? Is God in Heaven saying to you, “Can you hear Me now?” Have we turned up the volume with an extra helping of distraction to drown God out? We might not do this intentionally, but it happens.
In Deuteronomy 4:1, Moses says, “And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you, and do them, that you may live…”
I Kings 11:38 tells us “And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you.”
These Old Testament prophets and leaders are imploring Israel to stop and listen. Just listen. God is talking. Can you hear Him?
In Proverbs 1:5, King Solomon wrote, “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” Are you listening? Do you want to hear from God?”
Listening requires us to stop talking, turn off the media, and let our ears (and heart) work. The silence will be deafening at first, but then you will start to hear things, things such as … other people’s concerns and needs, the birds and the wind, and other subtle communications that God has initiated. This communication is present in our daily lives, but we are often too preoccupied to listen.
The best way to listen to God is to ‘tune-in’ to Him. His word given to us in Scripture is a great place to start. The prophet Jeremiah said in “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God Almighty.”( Jeremiah 15:16 ) Do we hunger for God’s word like this? Does it bring us joy?
I hope that this Christmas season that you will choose to make time for God to speak to you. You need to find the places and times to slow down and enjoy the silence. This is when God can have your attention. I would encourage you read, study and listen to the words of Luke 1 & 2 this holiday season, and if you have a family study it together. It is a great way to make Jesus Christ your focus for the season.