Mark 1: 29 – 39

Learning to Hear

This is the second on our series about the spiritual disciplines. Last week Will used the analogy of a journey to describe the spiritual life and explained how the spiritual disciplines help us make that journey. This week Cathy looked at the idea of ‘Learning to Hear’ and how we need to have a desire to hear from God. Unless we have this desire, this desire to listen to God and be changed by Him, however much we practice the spiritual disciplines they will not have an impact on us.

We looked at the example of Jesus, who was busy in His ministry, but who valued the need to take time out in solitude and prayer to be with His Father. Jesus continued to be very active in His ministry, yet throughout His ministry He had times of solitude and quiet.

We looked at how Jesus is closer to us than we often realise, and we need to still ourselves so that we can hear from Him.

Very often we can make excuses not to do this and for many different (and often outwardly laudable) reasons.

Cathy used the image of muddy water, which if you keep stirring it stays muddy. If you leave it, after a while the mud sinks to the bottom. Our lives are like this. We need times of quiet and reflection for the mud to sink to the bottom, allowing us to see more clearly what God is saying.

To hear from God, we need to look at the patterns of our lives, and see where we can create time and space to wind down and be ready to listen to Him.

1. What excites or frightens you about the idea of hearing from God?

2. When have you heard from God? Has it just been about ‘big’ issues or has it included more everyday things? Has it just been about what to do, or has it been about the way you do things?

3. What helps you hear from God? And what would help you hear some more?

4. How do you create time and space in your life to hear from God? What excuses have you used for not doing this?

5. How do you know if you are hearing from God?