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Listening to God during Lent, Part 2
A few weeks ago I wrote about how I wasn’t going to be talking to God during Lent. Rather, I was embarking on a purposeful time of listening. Since that time, many have asked me what I’ve heard; "is there anything in particular that God has spoken to you?"
Well, quite honestly, I don’t really know.
In thinking through what I might write about this morning, I was taken to this passage in Habakkuk. Most mornings I try and rise before my family does, which has become exceptionally hard since daylight saving this past week. I go down stairs and make my cup of coffee and sit in one little corner of this little room off the side of my kitchen. I open the blinds and let the morning light slowly illuminate my Bible. I pray, read, listen, and sip. I’ve come to enjoy my morning watchtower.
As I read through Habakkuk, there’s mention of "How long, O Lord, must I call for help…" How long must I wait until I clearly can hear your voice? The basic story of this book is Habakkuk sees an injustice in the world, shows it to God… and then waits for God to respond. How long does he wait… 40 days? Longer? Just that morning?
So, can I expect that at the end of the 40 days leading up to Easter I’ll have a big revelation, a spoken word, a clear dialog? I don’t know for certain, but I’m certain of this – I’ve enjoyed my time of "looking to see what he will say to me". Perhaps that is the very thing God is speaking to me; my time with him isn’t a means to an end. My time with him is the very purpose of itself. I wonder if I were to hear something right away, whatever it may be, if I would continue searching him and listening. I wonder if that is exactly why I can’t say when my time of intentional listening is ending, because if I specifically heard something, a word, would I continue to listen?
I know this time has shaped my prayer life in ways I don’t even fully understand yet. I have slowed down. I am listening more, which is an ongoing activity. I don’t find it a coincidence that in this verse in Habakkuk, the prophet uses words like "watch" and "look". Perhaps for the 40 days after Easter I will just look and watch. I’m not convinced that they are entirely different, after all.
“I’ve enjoyed my time of “looking to see what he will say to me”.
Joe I was intrigued with this phrase. It conveys anticipation. That is what exhilarates many of us. It is not the trip but the anticipation of the trip. The anticipation of God speaking to us should put us on pins and needles.