What’s That, God? I Can’t Hear You

As I sit here, sipping my green tea (with mint!) I can’t help but think about the many things I’ve been blessed with. And yet, in our deepest, darkest parts, we’re all dissatisfied. We’ve learned to hide it, but we are unable to enjoy the world the way God created on our own.

As I think, my mind wanders to the “to-do” list I have made for myself as a writer. Am I a writer? Well, I like writing, I’m pretty good at it, obviously God has gifted me with the ability to write.

But is that all it takes to be a writer?

And more importantly, just because I’m good at writing, is that what God specifically wants me to do? Well, yes, it’s true that God gave the ability for me to use, but *I* decided how to use that gift. I’m the one who wants to be a Christian Fiction novelist. I never received a message saying “You are to be the next Frank E. Peretti.” I would like nothing more than to do that, but is that what God really wants from me?

Well, no, it isn’t. He wants me to first and foremost seek Him.

“That sounds easier than it is,” you say, and you’d be right. But the main reason we fail to properly seek God is because we’re too busy trying to fulfill our own agenda. We can’t hear God over the noise and racket we fill our minds with. How can we listen to His still, small voice when the TV is on full volume, the kids are on even fuller volume, and every spare minute we have is consumed with “how am I going to make ends meet?”

Welcome to the modern world. This is what we struggle with. So how do we hear God? Quiet your mind, quiet your surroundings, still your active life, and listen. Read your Bible, put on some quiet music, and listen. Not for just five minutes, either. We can’t expect God to reveal Himself to us like a drive-through window. It doesn’t happen on our schedule. We have to be available to listen.

So in light of this, what are my goals in life? I mean, my real goals, not what I think would make me the most money.
* I want to write as much as I can. This could mean writing novels, or it could mean blog posts, or it could mean writing letters to my friends and family.
* I want to spend more time with my family. Especially doing things with them, not doing things around them.
* I want to play more music. Nothing fills me with wonder, joy, and passion like playing music. I’m not a very good songwriter, but I have been given the gift of music, and I want to use that as much as I can. It might mean playing in a band, or doing more music in church, or maybe teaching my kids to play instruments.
* I want to read more books.
* I want to bless people with what I’ve been given. I don’t want to develop a dependency on “stuff”, but would rather use it as a way to bless others.
* I want to read the Bible enough to be fluent in it.

I’m sure there are more things than this, but these will do for now. What are your goals in life? Are they too specific? Do you need to quiet your life before you can hear God? I know I did.