Sitting on a bench somewhere in the middle of an unknown park listening to the birds sing, the wind blowing through the trees, and enjoying the warmth of the sun as it brushes over your face in-between trees that sway; now THAT is my idea of relaxation.  Finding the time, or rather making the time, to sit on that illusive bench is something many of us have difficulty doing.  It is often there when I hear God's voice speak.

          For me, the most important thing in my life isn’t my career, my family, or even the Mrs.  No, it’s being able to hear, recognize, and understand the voice of the Lord.  Admittedly, I often miss it, especially when life is so hectic and all I can focus on is what’s next on the agenda.  But the times when I do hear Him, and recognize His voice speaking to me, are by far the times that not only change my life but also the lives of those around me.

          God is speaking to us all the time.  We, on the other hand, are not listening for Him all the time.  Often when we do hear His voice or know He is trying to get a message across to us is when we’re in the middle of a crisis.  It’s then when we turn our hearts to Him in need of help.  Thankfully, God is not like His created ones who tend to hold grudges, feel inconvenienced, or just don’t care when others come to them with needs.  No, He is always there willing and excited to hear from us.

          So, the common denominator in us hearing His voice and knowing His will for us, is to have that time alone with Him.  It seems so simple on the surface, but when faced with the opportunity to turn everything off (including our phones and the impulse to take a selfie before we do anything) more times than not, we find ourselves stuck looking through the next post on Facebook.

          I’ll admit, it’s hard to break away from.  I struggle with it like everyone else.  If it weren’t for my time in the morning before starting my day that I spend with Him, I may not have much time with Him throughout the day at all. 

My goal this year, is to start making more time that is dedicated to speaking with, and hearing Him.  Whether it is sitting on a random park bench, walking by the lake nearby, or just sitting on the back porch in one of our rocking chairs, I know it is crucial for me to do so at this juncture in my life.

I want to encourage you too, if you are feeling a need to hear His voice more clearly, to get his guidance on a few crucial decisions in your life, or just to soak in His presence and peace for a while, find a place where you can put everything (and I mean everything including the phone) away.  Even if it’s just fifteen or twenty minutes a day, He will meet you there. 

As you make a habit of talking with Him daily like that, I know He will bless you beyond what you can imagine and begin to speak with you in ways you have been needing to hear.  He will make His plans clearer to you and He will give you the peace you have been looking for.   Because, He loves you that much…

Love always,

Brad