In this final post of three, I want to suggest that to be acquainted with God’s voice it helps to Practice Intentionality. Many people are full of good intentions, but not very intentional in the ways they live. The practices of silence and listening need the opportunity that intentional time and space offer. Practicing our silence and listening in the intentional times prepares us for the silence and the listening in the unintentional or ordinary times. God longs for us to hear His voice in the silence of a prayer closet or in listening to His Word. But life is populated by many more ordinary and unintentionally spiritual moments. God is speaking into these ordinary moments and revealing His compassionate and guiding presence. He longs, in intentional times of pause, to train us in conversation. His desire is that, throughout all our lives, we will be more attentive to His voice and the ongoing conversation He longs to have with us.

My son attended a day retreat devoted to silence and listening put on by our church. It was a very intentional moment to pay attention to Christ. When the day was over my son described his experience of sitting out on the grounds of this retreat center waiting, for what seemed a long time. And then God began to speak to him about his relationship with his mom and me, and his wife. In the drive home my son turned to us and said how he realized that often the impression he gave to us on the phone was that he was too busy for us and that was not the impression he ever wanted to give us. He just wanted to let us know how much he loved us. All I could think was, I need to begin to send him out alone in silence and listening more often.

All three of these practices, Practicing Silence, Practicing Listening, and Practicing Intentionality, might assist you in discerning and responding to the voice of the Lord. When you personally consider each practice, which of them might need a bit more of your attention and, how might the Lord be calling you to respond today? God is speaking. What are you hearing?