019 God Speaks: Hinderences to Hearing God part 6

One of the Biggest Hindrances to Hearing God: Not Listening

In today’s world, one of the greatest obstacles to hearing God isn’t that He’s silent—it’s that we’re not listening. Our lives are filled with so much noise, distraction, and busyness that we struggle to make room for the quiet, still moments where God’s voice can be heard.

The Distractions That Steal Our Attention

Take a moment to think about how you spend your time. If you were to look at the usage stats on your phone, what would they reveal? How many hours are spent scrolling through social media, watching TV shows, or listening to the latest songs?

These activities aren’t inherently bad, but they often consume so much of our attention that we leave little to no room for God. We say we want to hear His voice, but our actions often prioritize entertainment, productivity, or other pursuits over Him.

Jeremiah 25:4 says:
"The Lord has sent to you all His servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, but you have not listened nor inclined your ear to hear."

This verse is a sobering reminder that God is speaking—through His Word, His Spirit, and His people—but we often fail to incline our ears to hear Him.

Are You Making Time to Listen?

Listening to God requires intentionality. It’s not something that happens by accident. We need to set aside time to:

Be Still
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Stillness allows us to quiet the noise and focus our hearts on Him.

Spend Time in His Word
The Bible is one of the primary ways God speaks to us. Have you made time to read and meditate on Scripture, asking God to reveal His heart to you?

Write Down What He Speaks
Are you ready to record the impressions, thoughts, or Scriptures God places on your heart? This practice shows that you’re actively listening and value what He’s saying.

The Cost of Not Listening

When we fail to listen, we miss out on the guidance, encouragement, and wisdom God desires to give us. We may feel distant from Him, not because He’s far away, but because we’ve allowed distractions to drown out His voice.

Consider how much time is spent on activities that don’t nourish your soul. How many hours are dedicated to binge-watching shows, scrolling endlessly, or chasing fleeting pleasures? These things might entertain us for a moment, but they can’t fill the deeper longing in our hearts that only God can satisfy.

A Prayer to Tune Our Hearts

Lord, help us to make time for You above everything else. Quiet the noise in our lives and tune our hearts to hear Your voice. Forgive us for the ways we’ve neglected to listen. Teach us to be quick to listen, ready to obey, and eager to spend time in Your presence. Amen.

Closing Thought

Hearing God isn’t about His ability to speak—it’s about our willingness to listen. Make a commitment today to create space in your life for God. Turn off the distractions, open His Word, and incline your ear to hear what He has to say.

God is speaking. Are you ready to listen?