Do you find it hard to connect with God when your environment is distracting? You know, those moments when you're trying to hear God's voice, but the voices of your kids are louder. Or there’s tension because you’re navigating a crucial conversation with someone while trying to listen for God at the same time.
It seems so much easier to hear God when we’re sitting watching the sunrise or on a long-awaited retreat. But if we're not careful, we will associate connecting with God to being in a perfectly peaceful environment.
Hearing God isn't reserved for well-manicured spaces in our lives. The Father’s heart desires that you fellowship with Him in all environments. Jesus wants to speak to you daily in the middle of the chaos.
So how do we connect with God regardless of our surroundings? Brother Lawerence, a Carmelite Monk, developed a simple way of praying that he called "practicing the presence of God." He learned to commune with God continuously even in highly distractible environments. He would thank God for that which was "distracting" him instead of counting it as an obstruction. Rather than keeping his distractions at a distance, he brought them close, integrating them into his moment with God, becoming aware of God in their midst. What was "disrupting" became the vehicle for his worship.
God doesn't need a quiet space to speak. In fact, the chaos around you may be the backdrop God is looking for.
Ask: Jesus, what situations have I believed hinder my ability to connect with you?
Ask: Jesus, where are you in those moments? What do you want me to know about them?
Try expressing gratitude for the ways Jesus is present in those moments. Gratitude can powerfully shift perspective and create a fresh connection with God.
With Joy,
This devotional was first published in the ONE Journal by ONE on November 11, 2020.
