We live busy lives. Many of us are work, spend time with kids, grandkids, and or parents, maintain a household, go to church., stay in touch with friends, and try to make a difference in our communities. Whew!
What makes this generation different than others, who were equally busy, is that while we are busy, we are often listening to something else while we are doing something. We have the radio, music on our phones, or podcasts on while we are driving, cooking, getting ready in the morning, and walking…and I haven’t mentioned television, videos, or streaming movies.
What is different about this generation is that we rarely have quiet moments.
At the same time, we want to hear the voice of God. We want the Holy Spirit to “speak” to us.
But how can He when we never have quiet?
With this in mind, I was intrigued by a piece that Beliefnet published this month, “5 Ways the Holy Spirit Tries to Get Your Attention”.
Before launching into the five ways the article lists, I would like to add one that I have found difficult but effective:
Deliberately create periods of silence in your life.
While on most days, I am listening to Podcast or books when I am driving to work or walking the dogs, on occasion, I walk in silence. While I cannot claim to have directly “heard the voice of God” during such periods of silence, I can say that silence makes me more aware of my surroundings, more at peace, and more mindful of my blessings. I often wonder if those times don’t at least put me in a better place, a better frame of mind, to hear the Holy Spirit. Certainly, silence opens my mind for reflection.
The time I find “easiest” to enter silence is when I go to bed. I generally am the last one to go to bed, and so the house is quiet. I am able to better focus my attention on God, blessings, and to be still.
Returning to the article, the author, Stephanie Hertzenberg, lists five ways that the Holy Spirit tries to get our attention:
Dreams - the author notes that most dreams are forgotten or hazy in detail once we awaken. “Dreams from the Holy Spirit, however, are different. They are deeply emotional and often involve vivid imagery. You also remember them come morning…and they linger in the back of your head for days, weeks, even months after you initially had the dream.
Repeated Symbols - Ms. Hertzenberg notes, “The Holy Spirit might try to get your attention by repeatedly putting the same symbols or signs in your path.” These would likely be unique to each person—with patterns becoming clear as you become aware of these signs or symbols over time.
Messages From Others - the article points out that these messages are more blatant. “They almost always, however, appear to you as statements from those around you that seem eerily accurate to your circumstances.”
Gut Feelings - the author notes, “When you have those feelings, study them carefully” to discern their origins. They could be the Holy Spirit “warning you away from something or encouraging you along the path God has planned for you.”
Closed Doors - if the Holy Spirit closes a door, view it as one you should not take. God does have a plan for you…but it is likely not behind that door.
Don’t miss the quiet signs the Holy Spirit might be providing you.
Incorporate silence into your day.
I’ll add one final point: ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you and also pray that you will be able to hear the voice, see the signs, and discern the direction you should take.
As in all aspects of Bonding with God, prayer is the centerpiece.