Impediments To HEARING God

In the last blog, I suggested that various things we do can block us from hearing God—or keep him from talking to us at all. One thing, for example, believe he’s there or he isn’t likely to waste time trying to communicate with you. There are still other factors in play here.
The Judeo-Christian Bible suggests that, for one thing, God has what might be called an allergic reaction to evil—or, to use the theological term, sin. He can’t stand it. Anthropomorphically, one could suggest that the presence of evil, of sin, provokes a gag reflex in him.
When someone is gagging over something he usually doesn’t communicate all that well with another person. In fact his greatest desire is to get away from whatever is sickening him—especially if it is something about that other person.
So, before we talk to God and expect to hear back from him, we need to do what I shall call a Ten Commandments check. To run through very quickly: Is there something we place a higher value on than we do him? He created us to have friendship with beings outside of himself. And, we are told, he is a very, very jealous God.
Oh, oops. Is there anyone among the human population that hasn’t had—or doesn’t have now—something he or she honestly wants more than fellowship with God. How about money? How about another person, someone we desire? How about success? How about promotion and power? Any of the above is classified as “idolatry”—a worship of something created rather than the creator.
If this doesn’t totally kill communication, it messes it up badly. How about the desire to do someone real harm—someone who did us a real wrong? That qualifies as the equivalent of murder. How about fudging a bit on taxes or the expense account—or taking a few office supplies home? Qualifies as stealing under the Ten Commandments, as interpreted by Christ.
How about wanting the job someone else has—that’s covetousness. How about cursing someone, someone who did us a serious wrong? “Damning” is taking God’s name in vain. How about stretching the truth a tad when we talk about someone no one in the group can stand? That’s “bearing false witness”—or lying.
All of these will block communication with God. If we stand before God deliberately hanging on to our rage, refusing to admit error, making excuses for our little white lies and tiny little thefts, we are a stench in his nostrils.
You have to be forgiven before the nasty odor goes away. And remember, as Christ said, if you haven’t forgiven all the wretched folk who have done you so much harm, you yourself will not be forgiven. As you can see, talking to God—hearing God—as a Christian is not an easy thing. Christianity is not an easy faith to follow. Christ suggests that anyone should first sit down and decide if he wants to pay the cost before he professes Christianity. It’s a high cost. It can be a real pain.
Then there’s another major problem that prevents communication with God. Time. Not taking it. Ever rush up to your boss or your mate, rattle off a request and rush away—and then wonder why you never got an answer?
God likes you to spend a little quality time with him—especially if you’re asking for something. Sometimes you have to actually sit down and talk with your boss or your wife before you can get the answer or favor you want. You have to show a little patience. Ditto God.
It’s a good idea to clear your mind of other thoughts and busy-nesses. It says in the Bible that the “sons of darkness are wiser in their generation than the sons of the light.” An example of that might be the Buddhist monk who is willing to sit, clear his mind and meditate. Very few Christians will show their God that much respect.
A Christian “mantra” might be a biblical verse, a refrain from a hymn or simply a phrase like “Thank you”. Such can clear the mind of many things that otherwise clog communication. You can’t be thinking about the budget shortfall or tomorrow’s presentation and concentrate on God—or your wife.
Lastly—in this very short list—you have to shut up and listen. (Ever have a boss, a teacher or a mate tell you to pipe down so that you can hear him or her speak?) The Hebrew Psalm 46 ends with the directive: “Be still and know that I am God.”
Be still. God doesn’t shout at you or use an earthquake to get your attention. If you insist on talking right through him, he’ll be the polite one and fall silent.
You can see that there might be all sorts of reasons why you could just be perfectly correct when you say, “God never says anything to me”.
That doesn’t mean he doesn’t try. But sometimes we make it impossible for him. (Yes, there are things God cannot do. The Bible expressly states that there were situations in which God could work no miracles because those who needed them refused to believe. We can limit the Omnipotent. He has given us that much power. Too many of us use it too often.)
So, if we tell him we’re sorry for the nastiness we’ve done (and mean it), if we spend time with him, if we are quietly listening—how do we hear him speak? We’ll get into that next.