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I sit, listening to a child give counsel.  And the small gracious nuggets stick in my craw.  (for you non chicken people that is the place where there are little pebbles that ‘chew’ up a chicken’s dinner.)  Older children have a lot to offer a mum/mom (my daughter-in-law is from New Zealand and I enjoy her words) whose been parenting for 30 some years and isn’t perfect!  So I listen, and hope I don’t choke on this gracious little nugget!  As they finish I realize they have grown up to love the Lord.  They are listening to His counsel.  And they have words of wisdom for me.  Is it easy?  NO!  Some of it I’m still digesting.  But I am praising God that when I asked for wisdom 30 odd years ago for my children I got it and God has blessed even though I knew little about raising children.  My children have followed the Lord.  More than that in some ways they have grown beyond me in their walk with God.  Will they do it the same, or will it look the same?  NO!  It will be the Spirit moving them in paths I never imagined.  All of them have a greater heart for the lost and for missions than I did.  Is it scary?  YES!  Even though they have a good sense of humour/humor, they are all serious about God… So…. each time I will listen, though it is unpalatable and I want to choke!  I will remember my little chickens breaking down their food in their craws, and I’ll be watching for the truth in those nuggets.

My belief system of the absolute impossibility of hearing God regularly, moment-by-moment does not line up with scripture.  I need a new lens to assimilate truth.  How many have gone before me in faith and by faith, hearing God regularly.  The early disciples certainly understood the still small voice.  Many, many others through His story have understood the daily means of an open ear to heaven.  So while I AM HEARING GOD, I believe it to be my own thoughts most of the time, or only later realize it was God’s voice that spoke life.  An ear toward that inner voice is a practice hourly, awash with forgiveness for myself when they day has passed and I realize I wasn’t.  His grace is big enough to deal with my foolishness.  And slowly a practice, will become my habit, bit by bit.

Reminders:

Put scripture throughout my home on 3×5’s or notecards.  On the mirror in the bathroom, on my bulletin board, on my car dash, in my phone, etc

Regularly have the word being read in my home.

Build a list of scriptures on my phone that i am memorizing

Regularly play worship music

There are several key patterns that draw me away from God:  Stress and anxiety, busyness, too much on my plate, not controlling my thought life, not spending quality time with the Lord each day.  When I have these  patterns they are an automatic, WAKE UP CALL!  I stop and spend time with the Lord, asking for forgiveness for ignoring Him.  And yes it is done over the sink or with my head in the washer!  : ))  I am regularly asking God to remind me to spend time with Him, to focus on Him.  In retrospection, I really want relationship with the Father.  I really want closeness daily, where I am acknowledging Him and becoming like Him.   Praise God I can hear His voice! : )