This morning was Day 3 of my journey in listening to God this week…and it proved once again that I have a long way to go. I got a call at around 2 in the morning for a work issue and had a tough time getting back to sleep. I also have a funeral to prepare for on Friday. I was tired and my mind was racing in a thousand directions…except towards God.

Plain and simple…I just couldn’t quiet my spirit long enough to hear God. There was too much noise…too much distraction. I decided not to push it too hard. And I know that God isn’t going to hammer for it. Because I know he loves me. And I know He was with me all day…at work…at the home of a family that has just lost their dad…at home after it all. He was with me as I started putting together the memorial service.

It’s comforting to know that God is always there, even when we aren’t at our best. So, I plan to get some sleep tonight and get right back into the saddle tomorrow…I know He’ll be there waiting for me with the right word(s). And at least I’m learning not to feel so guilty when I don’t live up to my own expectations…guilt is not fruit from God (it’s from that other dude!).

More to come…

Day 2 of my 5 day process of spending time listening to God each morning was about as different from Day 1 as you could get. No direction to read a passage of Scripture that jumped off the page (although I did read Mark 16). No, Day 2 was more about hearing the Spirit’s voice spoken into my spirit. It’s not something I do well…it’s something He’s teaching me to get better at.

And what I heard yesterday morning was a repeat of a common theme in my spiritual journey:

“Stay with me, David. Don’t ever leave me.”

My spirit has a tendency to do that…to wander from God and try to manage on my own instead of staying connected to Him…remaining (or abiding) in Him as He said in John 15. None o this was said with even a hint of condemnation or guilt…simply a gentle reminder that my heart is prone to wander and I need to stick with Jesus or I will wander off.

How about you? What reminders do you get (and/or need) from God regarding your spiritual journey? What is your heart prone to do…?