4. The most important thing in learning to hear God is my sincere desire not just to hear God, but to participate in a relationship with Him. 

(Before looking at the questions below, take a few minutes to think about this statement. Invite Jesus to speak to you about what He would like you to notice.) 

Think about why you want God to speak to you.

Is there something about a relationship with God that seems frightening?

Do intimate relationships with people make you anxious? If so, how does this anxiety affect your ability to be intimate with God?

What do you believe (as evidenced by your behavior) is more important to God: serving Him and doing things for Him or simply spending time getting to know Him? How does this perspective shape the nature of your conversations with God?

We live in a world of technological “gods.” Google can answer any question we ask. GPS will guide us to any destination we desire. With a simple command, our phones and iPads can keep us entertained for hours.

God is a person and wants to relate to us person-to-person. The gods of technology can provide for certain needs, but they cannot give us love. Love can only be given and received in a relationship. Love cannot be taken. We like technology because it allows us to take what we want or think we need. It gives us control.

God wants us to receive His love, and for this to happen, we must give up control and participate in a relationship with God. At first, God may extend grace and communicate with us even if we only want Him to speak to satisfy our selfish motives. But if we are unwilling to grow in the relationship, God may become less responsive to our requests and neediness.

God desires to be in a relationship with us that is healthy. If we don’t want the relationship with God, then eventually we will be frustrated with God’s lack of communication.