What If

My people would not listen to me;
    Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
    to follow their own devices.

If my people would only listen to me,
    if Israel would only follow my ways,
how quickly I would subdue their enemies
    and turn my hand against their foes!
Those who hate the Lord would cringe before him,
    and their punishment would last forever.
But you would be fed with the finest of wheat;
    with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” - Psalm 81:11-16

As God points out in this passage, it’s really hard to listen for God. But maybe that doesn’t mean God is silent. What if God is trying to reach us, trying to speak, trying to connect? What if it’s us who is not making the effort?

The challenge, of course, is that God does not speak on our command and is often silent. And when God does speak, the majority of those times it’s hard to tell what we’re really supposed to do with it. Frankly, it takes some real work and a growing maturity to discern what God is saying. And while all of that is true, so often the biggest issue is the question of whether or not we actually lean in to listen.

Our spiritual practice this week is spending one hour alone with God, device free, asking the questions “How did I meet God over the past week?” and “How did I miss God over the past week?” As part of that hour you may take a walk or sing a song or sit by the ocean or light a candle - whatever is helpful for you to focus. But regardless, the thing that matters most is whether you really want to listen.