Week 347
Positive post Sunday, October 22, 2023- Week 347.
This week, I continued to reflect on how God speaks to me in my everyday life. One of my favorite Responsorial Psalms, which I have heard sung at church many times over the years, is “If Today You Hear God’s Voice, Harden Not Your Heart”. According to Fr. Max Oliva, SJ, from his September 6, 2020 homily, here’s the link: “If Today You Hear God’s Voice, Harden Not Your Heart” – West Province (jesuitswest.org), this Psalm reminds us that God speaks to us more often than we realize, but we can “harden our heart” through fear, disbelief, or over preoccupation with life’s issues.
Fr. Oliva’s homily reminded me of how important it is to remove all the noise in our daily lives, and truly listen to God (see PPS 340). He notes that God can speak to us anywhere, and yes, he mentions “while out for a walk” (see last week’s PPS). Fr. Oliva also references I Samuel 3:7-11, “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening,”, spoken by the young Samuel, as instructed by his mentor Eli, when Jesus called him for the third time in the middle of the night.
I have found that God speaks to me in many ways, and with an open heart and soul, I hear him.
In another article by Kristin Bolt that shares 6 signs that reinforce how God speaks to us in our daily lives.
The 6 clear signs God is speaking to you are:
- Through His word – most notably in the Bible and as proclaimed during the Mass
- Audibly – as he did directly to Saul on the Damascus Road
- Through other people – be aware of false prophets by reading the Bible/knowing God’s word yourself
- Through visions and dreams – listen for even the smallest of signs
- From an inner knowing – faithfully nudging you in the right direction
- Through blocked paths – He clears righteous paths or blocks troubled paths
I have experienced God speaking to me in each of these ways. Most notably through His word at Mass and when reading the Bible, and through meaningful engagement with others. I have also been exposed to false prophets who claim to be professing the word of the Lord. I follow 1 John 4:1 – Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
How do you remove the noise in your daily life to truly hear God’s voice?
How does God speak to you in your daily life? Do you listen and respond?