How NOT to Hear God

First posted June 2016

As I awaken in the morning, there are often those dark and empty pulls threatening to grab hold of me first thing. When I give in, I’ll likely not hear or see God all around.

The only God-Voice that I do hear is . . . "don't get sucked into that downward pull.” It’s the the fleshly self, happily fed by the enemy of my soul and the unwanted circumstances of my world around me. The Holy Spirit warns where this is headed -- death all around . . . and He rescues if I let Him.

And so today I remember a poem my husband found several weeks ago, tucked away in an old notebook of his — a real "find" when cleaning out his office for that pending home renovation:

Fifteen Minutes to Freedom*
George MacDonald

With every morn my life afresh must break
The crust of self, gathered about me fresh;
That thy wind-spirit may rush in and shake
The darkness out of me, and rend the mesh
The spider-devils spin out of the flesh—
Eager to net the soul before it wake.
That it may slumberous lie, and listen to the snake.

As C.S. Lewis says, "The fight is at the beginning of the day."

So I return to my "just as I'm awaking" morning prayer (did I forget it today?):

Lord, YOU are my King! I am your servant. I serve at YOUR pleasure and for your YOUR purpose. Unfold YOUR fullness in my life today. Live through me, love through me, serve through me for YOUR honor and glory. Amen.

Now my soul is at peace, clothed with the fullness of the living Christ, to face my day afresh with open eyes and ears to see and hear my God all around.

 [*as quoted by John Eldridge in Waking the Dead]