Inner Life

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    As I read the story of Mary and the announcement of the virgin birth in Luke I am continually struck by Mary’s inner life. Repeatedly in the first chapters of Luke the gospel writer says that she treasured and pondered the words and works of God in her heart.

    I want to be one who attends to God, hears Him and treasures what He says and ponders it. In order to be that a few things need to take place:

Slowing down
Quiet
Paying attention
Listening
Waiting
Trusting

    How about you? Can you hear what God is saying?

    If so, do you treasure his words or are they equal with all other voices?
    Do you meditate on those treasured words and let them sink deep?

    As I seek to, I invite you to as well.

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

Your Leading Voice

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    Whose voice leads you? Some of us are led by voices from the past, the voice of a parent, the voice of failure or the voice of bitterness. Some of us led by voices that tell us we should have more, should be doing more or what it is we should be doing and how.

    Whose voice leads you? Are you being led by the expectations of others? Are you being led by culture, however “good” this culture might be?

    Or is God’s voice leading you? How does God’s voice lead you in the noise of life? How does His voice stand out.

    Here are a few ways of practicing listening for God’s voice:

    - Read the Bible. Here you will learn to know what God’s voice says and does not say. Start with one of the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.
    - Spend time in silence, in quiet and resting. This allows your mind to stop spinning even if it is just for a few minutes.
    - Spend time with others who seem to be able to hear God’s voice consistently. Learn from them and grow with them.

    We have so many competing voices in our lives. May we learn more and more what the voice is of our loving Father and follow His voice.

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

Hearing God

**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**

    It is the season of Christmas where unfortunately all things start to move faster, there is more on the to-do list and things are more crowded (literally). We tend to be more frustrated, less patient and lose sight of Jesus. This is the perfect opportunity to choose to slow down and hear what God wants to speak to our hearts.
    Slowing allows us to hear more clearly things that would not have heard the first time around. Chances are if we are running around busy, or concerned about our check list we often have not heard correctly the first time anyway! Slowing down allows me to hear more clearly what another is saying to me and also what God is saying to me.
    To sit and listen to God takes time, it takes discipline and it clarifies things.
    In the times I have practiced slowing I have sat down with a cup of hot tea (which almost automatically causes you to slow down), no agenda, possibly read something short and just waited. I am tempted to get up after about 10 minutes and read more or go do something productive. For me, I have found that after about 45 minutes of sitting and sipping hot tea that something comes forth. Either a truth pierces my heart or I recall something and God brings light to it. If I do not slow down and sit, I miss this.
    Consider making time to sit with God. Drink whatever warm drink you’d like and sit with Him, alone. Read a passage of Scripture and talk to God, but spend most of your time listening. Ask Him to speak to your heart. Pay attention to the things that come up and listen for God.

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**

The Gift of Listening

**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**

    In a world where we are being bombarded with messages, mostly unimportant, we are losing the ability to listen. In a culture where one’s words are valued more than their silence, we are losing the ability to listen. In a society where words persuade and influence and silence is seen as weak or unintelligent, we are losing the ability to listen.
    To listen is a gift to others and a gift to ourselves. We are often impatient when listening to another, waiting for our turn to speak and thinking of what we are going to say while they are speaking. We often do not slow down enough to listen to others, listen to ourselves or even listen to God.
    Listening requires slowing down and that is just not what everyone around us is doing. That is not how the world is. Everything is going faster and faster is better. Or is it?
    Spend time today choosing to listen. Listen to God. Listen to others. Hear what is being spoken.

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**

Bold Requests

**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**

Bold Requests. Do you ever wonder what gives people the confidence to make bold requests?  How do they know what to ask for? Sometimes I do not make bold requests because I do not have the first clue of what to ask for. Sometimes I hesitate to make bold requests because fear of what someone will think of me. Bold requests can mean that you in fact do not have it all together.  Bold requests could mean that you need help.  I do not like to admit either one of those things yet they are true. Jesus wants your bold requests. He wants to hear from you. Lepers made bold requests of Jesus, accepting whatever outcome would come. The point of a bold request is not necessarily the answer but admittance that you need God's help and you speak that need. God is listening.  He wants to hear your heart. What bold request might you voice today?

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**