Hearing God

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I miss God. I mean, I know He is with me all the time, but I miss feeling His presence. I miss hearing from Him. What happened to shut that off? What have I done to hinder that feeling?

There was a time when I reveled in God’s presence. I could feel Him close. I could see Him at work around me. Every day was an adventure in what He might do. I felt I was part of His kingdom, doing His work…the most fruitful and fulfilling work there is. And now….nothing.

In Amos 8, the Lord says He will send a famine through the land – a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. People would stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. People were running away, turning away, pushing away from God. And so God let them be.

A famine of His presence…His word.

What can we do to fix that? What can we do to stop the famine and hear Him again?

PRAY. In one of Beth Moore’s studies, she said that God would grant every prayer that was in line with His will. And would could be more in line with His will than loving Him more? Pray that you would desire Him above all else. Pray that you would want to read His word daily. Pray that God would give you a passionate desire for Him. Pray that you would hear Him daily. How could he not grant such a request?

READ. Be in the word. The Bible is God’s words to us and it reveals His nature, His power, and His love. We must know God in order to love like Him and be like Him. So read it daily. Spend time with Him.

SIMPLIFY. We are bombarded daily with materialism. Commercials trying to get you to buy more stuff. New gadgets and technology. Entertainment abounds. Just so much STUFF that woos us away from what is really important….God and His kingdom. We get so busy and the world gets so loud that we cannot hear God anymore. Tune out the world and listen. He is whispering to you.

What are you doing to hear God more? 

*This post was inspired by John Ketchersid’s sermon on July 21, 2013.


Sherrinda Ketchersid

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6 responses to “Hearing God”

  1. Melissa Tagg Avatar
    Melissa Tagg

    Oh Sherrinda, that first paragraph resonated with me SO much. The whole post did, but especially those first sentences about missing God. That's where I've been lately. I know He's always there…but I'm pretty sure I've let busyness and the realities of basically working two full-time jobs keep me from really resting in that presence. So that last point–simplifying–I think I need to do some of that, for sure. 🙂

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  2. Gabrielle Meyer Avatar
    Gabrielle Meyer

    I felt like I wrote that first part, Sherrinda. It sounds ironic, but it's during the famines in my life that I've felt God most at work in me. I believe I'm coming out of one of those famines now. It dawned on me yesterday, as I was watering my poor and pitiful hanging baskets, that I get just like my plants, dry and limp, when I don't get enough spiritual Water. Reading the Word and praying constantly, about everything, is the best way to combat a famine. Thank you for the reminder.

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  3. Sherrinda Ketchersid Avatar
    Sherrinda Ketchersid

    Melissa, isn't it hard to go through the waves of the journey and to be in the ebb of the flow. It is so incredibly easy to let the busyness of life crowd out God's presence. The world gets loud and I have to be intentional about finding the silence to hear Him. Thanks for sharing, Melissa. You are so cool.

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  4. Sherrinda Ketchersid Avatar
    Sherrinda Ketchersid

    Gabrielle, why is it that it is during those hard times that we feel God as work in us? I guess that is when we are more attentive to Him, trying to find him in the darkness. I love your analogy of the wilted plants…it describes it beautifully. Love you, girl!

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  5. Colleen Reske Avatar
    Colleen Reske

    These are wonderful reminders of how to feel that closeness with God all the time, especially when we feel like God is far away. But remember, He is never away from us; He is always near. We just get lost in this crazy, busy life and its pulls and temptations, and I need to have these reminders to help me find my way back to him. Thank you for a beautiful post.

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  6. Sherrinda Ketchersid Avatar
    Sherrinda Ketchersid

    Thank you for your insights, Colleen. You are so right…He is always present and close. It's just me getting distracted with “life” that keeps me from experiencing all that He has for me. Thank YOU for that reminder. (((hugs)))

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