Have you ever looked up to the sky and said, “God, are you up there? Are you home? Are you listening?” Some days it feels like we have been dropped off on this planet with little or no direction for our life. We were created for an intimate relationship with our creator, and yet so many of us often feel lost in space, even as a child of God!

So, how can we change that feeling of aloneness and lack of real connection to the Lord? Let me share my journey with you. I was “saved” a long time ago and knew that initial closeness to the Lord. As time passed, and the spirit of religion started grabbing a hold of me, my relationship with Jesus became more about “doing” than “being”. People everywhere started telling me what I needed to DO to please God, to be productive in His Kingdom, to prove my love for Him, and so much more.

Lots of times I felt like the Lord was talking to me, but I was not always sure that I was really hearing or listening. There is a difference. Hearing is a natural function. Listening is a spiritual function. Let me explain. My husband can hear what I am saying, but I can tell if he is listening depending upon the quality of the response. We might think we are hearing God but are we really listening? Listening requires intimacy. Real listening is full of desire to really be connected to the one who is speaking.

In 2001, at a Leadership School, I learned a few keys to becoming more intimately connected to the Lord. I embarked on a whole new adventure with the Lord by actually setting myself in a position to not only hear His voice, but also to listen to what He was saying. Now I know that my Creator IS my Daddy and that He really does care about me….every single moment of every single day.

Are you ready for the keys to intimate times with the Lord . . . ready to hear His lovely voice tell you about His love. . . ready to see what He sees and know what He knows about you and situations you are facing? Scriptural basis: Habakkuk 1:1-2 “I will stand at my guard post, I will keep watch to see…. What He speaks to me…then the Lord said, Write the vision.” Portions only

1. First key: Quiet yourself down. Yup, that’s the hardest one.
“Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among
the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46; 10 NKJ

.Find a quiet place in your house to get really comfortable
with the Lord. Invite His Presence to come and be with you.
When thoughts of what you need to “do” creep into your
head, just write them down somewhere to look at later….
That will help “relax your brain”, which is not accustomed to resting in the Presence of the Lord.

2. Second Key: fix your eyes upon Jesus
. Quiet your mind by purposely meditating on a Gospel
scene, thinking about Jesus, and/or listening to
instrumental, peaceful music

3. Third Key: Tune to the Flow
. Begin to pay attention to what you see or hear in your heart. The Lord may be showing you a picture, may be bringing you insight on a scripture you are reading, or may be responding to a question you have asked Him.

4.Fourth Key: Write! Yes, come to this place of purposefully listening
to the Lord with a pen and a journal of some type.

* Write what’s on your heart and listen to how He replies. Write what you sense He may be saying to you; draw any pictures He may be showing you.
* Relax. Don’t try to analyze what you are hearing... just write. Reread what you write and see if you feel His love. That is the Key. The Father will always let you feel loved!

5.Fifth Key: Share…..Find a trusted friend, pastor, or minister who knows how to be sensitive to the Spirit and ask her/him to read or listen to your journal entry. Ask them to “sense” what you have written by the Spirit. Be open to and not offended by parts they may not witness to completely …ESPECIALLY IF WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD IS DIRECTIONAL IN NATURE. DON’T ACT WITHOUT 2-3 WITNESSES WHO ARE REALLY TUNED IN TO THE LORD!!!

For more insight on Communing with God please visit www.cluonline.com Mark Verkler was my teacher, and I want to credit him for my version of the keys in this brief outline. You will enjoy learning more in his audio segments on line. Also, at http://graceandtruthfellowship.com/ Thom Gardner writes a great article on the subject.

I hope you will go on this journey towards a more intimate relationship with the Lord by really listening to Him. He is talking!!!

Blessings in His Presence, Marie

Fresh Bread is a monthly reflection by Marie Smith, founder of Women of the Light an international outreach of the Father’s love, shining light on the darkness, restoring hope and joy to all women. If you would like to contact the Women of the Light please visit http://www.womenofthelight.org/ or write to Women of the Light - Rt.3 Box272A-7 - Philippi, WV 26416 or call 304-457-6744. We are here to serve you fresh bread from the Father’s loving hand.