Weed #9: Talking Instead of Listening

Does God want to hear what’s going on in your heart? The intense emotions, questions, pain and dreams? Of course! However, when we go to prayer, we can’t just pour out all our complaints and concerns to him in a steady stream, without stopping to listen to what he has to say.

Weed #10: Impatience and Rushing Ahead

How long are you willing to wait to hear from your good Father and King of all that exists? A minute? Five minutes? Would you ever wait in silence for 15 minutes or even more? Moses waited 6 days before God spoke! Exodus 24:15-16 (NIV) When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.

Weed #11: Fear of People, Rather Than Fear of the God

If we are afraid of or controlled by what other people (even other Christians) think about us, we introduce another weed into the midst of our desire to hear God’s voice. Read what a simple verse highlights, Proverbs 29:25 (NIV) Fear of man will prove to be a snare. We are trapped and in chains when we are people-pleasers! This is in contrast to what we are told in another passage, Proverbs 14:26-27 (NIV) Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress and for their children it will be a refuge. For the fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.

Weed #12: Satan Tries to Keep Us from Hearing

It’s fascinating that we’re very good at listening to the devil’s voice, when he says things such as: “You’re not beautiful;” “You’re not smart;” “Nobody likes you.” Or when he sows seeds of doubt in our minds: “Yeah, but . . .” “What if?” “That wouldn’t be possible.” In one parable Jesus tells us that Satan will attempt to snatch the seed (God’s Word) out of our hearts as quickly as it is sown (Mark 4:14-15). Have you experienced this? The devil is a liar and the source of many lies. Why would one choose to listen to him rather than to God?

➔ Have you experienced this? Have you experienced a thought that you know is untrue and against what the Bible says try to stay in your mind?

Weed #13: Asking The Wrong Questions

Sometimes we can frantically ask God a question, and hear no response. If we quiet ourselves however, he might show us that we’re asking the wrong question! E.g. we might ask – how can my business prosper? Maybe we should instead be asking – “should I be in business at all?”

What we want to be listening for is the, “God-agenda” which is not just a good agenda, but the BEST!

Weed #14: Fear of Confusing Our Thoughts with God’s Thoughts

God promised that we will be able to know and recognize his voice. John 10:4-5 (NIV) When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”

The Bible also promises that if we are seeking the Lord, we WILL find him. It says in the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 4:29 (NIV) But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul. And in the New Testament, James 1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

If you’re in a crowd and your good friend or close family member yells out to you, you can recognize their voice because you know the sound so well! It’s the same with hearing God. Listen to his voice to know his voice.

Will we make mistakes? Of course! If we can mistake a friend’s voice, we should expect to slip up on hearing God’s voice from time to time. Learning to follow God can be messy (because we are messy!), and we will all make blunders along the way! No person on earth will be 100% accurate – not until heaven! This is why the most necessary characteristic we need for learning to hear God’s voice is humility! It will allow us to laugh at ourselves when we make a mistake and admit it to others.

Weed #15: Listening for a Loud Voice, Rather Than a Quiet Voice

God is not LOUD all the time. Let’s consider the amazing experience of the prophet, Elijah. He was hiding in a cave on Mount Horeb when God told him to stand on the mountain because he was about to pass by. Wow! Now carefully read what happens!

1 Kings 19:11-13 (NIV) … then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’

Though the world is noisy, God often speaks in a whisper and only those who are willing to become still can start to hear him clearly. Psalm 62:1 (ESV) For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

Weed #16: The Weeds of Fear and Anxiety

A big challenge we will face in life is FEAR! We can also add anxiety to our list of hindrances. Is it natural to feel fear and normal to feel anxious? Yes, at times. However, they become a huge problem when they begin to direct and steer our lives.

It’s important that we live our life by FAITH as followers of God and not FEAR of what can happen. Faith isn’t the complete absence of fear. Instead, it is the resolve and choice to follow the leading of Jesus in our lives despite our fear and lack of understanding.

The key to doing this is learning to stay connected to God’s peace. There truly is a peace that passes understanding. What exciting news! Many followers of God have discovered this reality. As it says in Philippians, Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV) So do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Here we see Paul encouraging the believers (including us) to not be anxious about anything (afraid, fearful) but instead to turn to thanksgiving and prayer. Then we can let our requests be made known to God and his peace will guard our hearts and minds. This is brilliant!

Too many times people go into a prayer time overwhelmed or anxious and then feel like their devotions are very dry. They then leave with the same feeling they had before. This is NOT the way our walk with Jesus was supposed to be! Paul is giving very practical advice. He is saying “change your focus” and you’ll have an easier time experiencing, yes experiencing, the peace of God.

Remember that this peace doesn’t come through the absence of conflict or the presence of great circumstances. That’s the world’s peace – dependent on circumstances.

In the next days, you’ll look at a tool that will help you quiet yourself and re-focus when confronted with fear and anxiety.