Would I notice?

If God were trying to tell me something, would I know?  

If God were reassuring me or challenging me, would I notice? 

I ask for grace to be free of my own preoccupations and open to what God may be saying to me.  

(from sacred space)

Would I notice?  It is a good question.  And, I ask myself tonight... If God were speaking to me, would I notice?  

I remember reading Dallas Willard's, Hearing God and being beautifully challenged with the idea that often times we miss God's speaking because we haven't tuned our ears to hear His voice.  We define God "speaking" in this way, or that way, and in doing so... we sometimes miss Him.  Defining God's "voice" accurately is important!  

I loved Willard's explanation that God has a "tone of voice" I need to learn.  He has a way about Him, a way He speaks, a rhythm and pattern...  I read Willard's Hearing God while in the midst of learning the Turkish language.  Learning a language is never an easy feat, to be sure.  And, I remember realizing that, in the same way, maybe learning God's voice was not all that easy either.  ...maybe I had to work at it just a bit.

photo source

Re-defining what God's voice sounds like is a major aspect of learning to hear Him!  But, being aware that He is speaking and Present at all times is half the battle.  

Awareness is key.  

Having learned a few languages in part; I know, also, that you never really become fully and completely "fluent".  I used to internally chuckle at the question put to me in the States, "So are you fluent yet?"  According to any linguistic studies done, fluency as an adult will never be achieved.  

Mastery of certain aspects of language, yes.  Language competency and proficiency, yes!  But, fluency, no.  There are always more vocabulary words to know and learn.  There are always more subtle aspects of language left to be understood:  deep (behind words) meaning, emotional connotations, idioms, phrases, and humor.   We simply can not fully grasp all that goes with a language that is not our "heart language" (that which our mothers first spoke to us).  
Actually, in reality, I am not yet fluent in English!  (wouldn't that be a fun response to the fluency question?)

So, there is much freedom in simply learning the next thing.  Just learn that new vocab word, that new idom, that new joke...
   
...learning a bit more today than I knew yesterday.  There is much freedom in moving forward, step-by-step, in language learning:  our learning of Turkish and of God's voice.  

I want proficiency when it comes to hearing God.  I want to master His Word, His Voice, and His Truth.  This is my goal.  

This will take some work--- exposing myself to His Word, memorizing His Word, practicing His Truth.  But, being aware that He is always speaking is half the battle.  I have got to notice Him...  And, this takes much grace and openness.  This takes deep surrender and asking for His help!  

I remember so many times sitting in a room full of Turkish ladies while I was totally "checked-out".  I was catching so little of the chatter, that my brain took a break (while my face said, "I am listening").  With so much noise... so many voices filling the room,...I couldn't focus on the one sitting next to me.  I just had to check out!  

How often do I do this to God?  How often do other voices and noises crowd out God's voice?  How often do I feel overwhelmed and miss Him?  ...How often do I "look" as if I am listening, looking for, or wanting God's voice in my life--- when actually I am "checked-out" thinking about the dishes, the laundry, the book I was reading, the hurt I am feeling or the clothes she is wearing.  

If God were trying to tell me something, would I know?

If God were reassuring me or challenging me, would I notice?
I ask for the grace to be free of my own preoccupations, and open to what God may be saying to me.

Psalm 27:8  My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And, my heart responds, "Lord I am coming"