So as a good Christian, you've probably been to a lot of retreats, conferences, and other events where you have a great inspirational speaker come up and tell you that you need to ask God to show you where to go with your life and listen to his will. However, when you get home it just doesn't work that way. If you happen to think about it with a big decision, like where to go to college, you'll say something like, "God please show me what college you want me to go to." Then if he doesn't put up virtual stop signs, road closed signs, armed guards or any other obvious roadblocks, you go to the college you think is best. This isn't listening to God, this is talking away and figuring if he wants you to listen to him he'll shout at the top of his lungs.
I work once a week with three to five year-olds. Something they make clear to you is that if they are talking...they aren't listening. This is true for adults also, we just like to pretend otherwise. With God this means taking time to listen to him, not "taking time to talk to God" or "taking time to spend in his word" but actually shutting up and "taking time to listen to God."What God has shown me in my life is to use three steps:
First; Recognize that you yield your life to God, so you'll do whatever he wants you to do with it. Then ask him to show you.
Second; Shut up! This means cutting out some other stuff in your life, like checking your email this morning or grabbing that snack you don't really need. Basically, you've gotta create a vacuum of time.
Third; Listen! In this vacuum of time you've created fill it with sitting somewhere where no person...or pet...or iPod will interrupt and listen to what God has to say.
You are wise. There is a reason God gave two ears and one mouth; the idea is to listen more than talk. :)
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