It’s been a few weeks since training camp. Life has continued. What you probably didn’t know, is that I’ve had some work to do along the way. After training camp, we were set up with a schoox account. I’ve had to watch videos on safety, finances, logistics, and most importantly go through a study called “The Art of Listening.”
To say I hear God all the time would be false. It’s definitely something I’m working on. I can tell you though, the call to go on the World Race was clear. I felt the tugging in my heart and had this burning desire. It was like no desire I’ve every had. Hearing God isn’t always like that for me though.
I’ll be the first to admit, I’m not one of those people who gets clear and specific images from God. I wish I did. MAYBE every now and then… but usually, that’s not me. So, when my team did evangelism in the streets of Georgia and we took a moment to sit with God to hear from him for direction…I got nothing. Let me tell you, I felt like a failure when every other person had an object, a word, a number and I had nothing.
Fast forward- and I can tell you that recently I have heard God’s voice and didn’t follow it. Not because I didn’t necessarily want to follow his instructions, but I didn’t realize it was his whisper.
Two weeks ago we had our first recreational volleyball game. I was feeling good! We were doing well for not playing together for a year. I went up for a block, and as I was coming down I could tell I was going too far under the net and tried to pull my foot back. I couldn’t do it fast enough, caught the opposing girl’s foot and ended up bending mine how it shouldn’t. Immediately I knew I had to stop and get some ice. IMMEDIATELY I knew that was God’s voice the other week when I was questioning to play this season. I had specifically questioned, “What if I sprain my ankle?”.
Now God and I have a little more time together since I quit the team, haven’t been to the gym, didn’t run the turkey trot, and am moving at a little slower pace. (Thankfully, nothing is broken–just swollen, sore, and bruised. Doc said it’ll be sore walking on it for a while. Also, I should be able to be back on the court in a month–but I have decided to fully surrender the distraction of volleyball at this time.)
One of the things in this study is writing down things that you think God is saying to you, testing it against scripture, and then having that documentation for later to review to see if it was just your thoughts or if it was God speaking to you. It also emphasized spending time with God–and not just TALKING to him, but LISTENING.
We have SO MANY distractions in life. Work, Groupme, family and friend commitments, texting, exercise, playing with the dog, meals, facebook, driving….. I don’t spend enough time in the Word. I don’t pray enough. What I do with my time CAN BE SUCH a distraction. But, we can choose how to use our time differently, and that’s what I’ve been trying to put into practice (more time in the word, more worship, more prayers, more listening). And hopefully, that small whisper will occur more often and turn to a fierce voice that I can definitely pin point as God.
So as I learn to seek God in a new way, I also want to encourage you to take time to just sit with God and listen to what he wants to share with you!
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matt 6:21
A few years ago I asked God right out “How come it’s so hard to hear Your still small voice?” I had an instant response. He said “Because you have to really want to hear it.” He’s a Man of few words, but His words are always right on target. I admit, I have not always listened to that still small voice, but I have tried to listen more closely since then. It makes a lot of sense. If you want to hear God’s voice, and I mean REALLY hear His voice, you are right. You have to stop talking and start listening. It’s amazing what He will show you.
Thank you for that encouragement! I will press on 🙂