↩ Looking Back
In this season, I've been trying to do a better job of listening to God. I've heard before that "The Bible is how God speaks to us and prayer is how we speak to God." I agree, but I don't think that's the only way God speaks.
Scripture is our filter—anything that contradicts it isn't from God. But he also speaks through his creation, his people, and even through dreams and visions (as the Bible frequently recounts).
In How to Hear God, Pete Greig explains why we often miss God's voice outside of the Bible:
Most of the time we miss the voice of God not because it’s too strange but because it’s too familiar.
Greig's perspective has helped me connect with God more deeply, and I highly recommend his book.
↑ Looking Up
When things aren't going my way, I tend to blame whatever caused that situation instead of taking responsibility. I don't think I'm the only human that does that.
That got me thinking about constraints: the ones we see, and the ones that are actually in the way.
I often want to get out the door faster than five little pairs of legs can move.
I used to think that what kept us from leaving was my kids’ ability to move quickly. We’ll call that the apparent constraint.
Many situations are controlled not by the apparent constraint but the actual constraint.
Too often, we’re the ones kinking the garden hose at the source (actual constraint) and blaming someone else for stepping on an empty tube at the end of the line (apparent constraint).
👉 Read the full post to identify the actual constraints in your life—and start dealing with them.
↪ Looking Forward
Larry King, who was famous for his interviews, brilliantly illustrated the importance of listening:
My first rule of conversation is this: I never learn a thing while I'm talking. I realize every morning that nothing I say today will teach me anything, so if I'm going to learn a lot today, I'll have to do it by listening.
I love learning, and something about that quote made my brain click and realize: I can't learn with an open mouth.
Let's open our ears to hear from God.
Let's open our eyes to what's really holding us back.
Let's close our mouths to have a chance to learn from others.
🔧 One Useful Thing
This Listening Prayer guide from KC Underground has been a help to me as I seek to more clearly hear God's voice. It grounds the idea of hearing from God in Scripture and offers a simple framework for asking to hear from the Lord.
Take some time—even just 10-15 minutes—to give listening prayer a shot this week and let me know what you think about the process.
Wrapping Up
If you’ve heard God speak recently—through Scripture, prayer, or even something unexpected—would you hit reply and share it?
If you found some actual constraints lurking beneath the surface, would you share that with someone you know?
If you learned something interesting from someone else, I'd love to hear about it.
Here’s to pursuing the useful life together—with open ears, open eyes, and closed mouths,
