G.W. Bill Elliott, Jr once noted;
You can't stop time, so don't let time stop you from telling another you love them. You may have time, but they may not and time won't wait.
Week:
2
Hearing and Presence
Learning to hear God and cultivate His presence. This session trains attention toward God’s voice through Scripture, prayer, and quiet practices that sharpen spiritual perception. It balances expectation with patience, offering practices to recognize promptings and to dwell in God’s nearness amid daily life. The aim is to move from information about God to an ongoing, felt relationship with Him.
Objectives
Build short daily presence practices.
Discern God’s voice from other noise.
Practice stillness and listening.
Reflections
What one short practice will help me notice God today?
How has God spoken to me in the past?
What distracts me most from hearing God?
NowTo the HowTo
Accountability/Tracking
Use a shared checklist to note when you practiced a presence break; share one confirmed impression at week’s end.
Community Action
Host a 20 minute guided listening exercise in pairs where one person speaks and the other listens without response.
Creative Project
Make a “Presence Plan” poster listing three daily pause times and a Scripture to anchor each pause.
Leader Prompt
Model a 3 minute silence and invite reflections on how God’s voice felt different from other thoughts.
Personal Practice
Schedule three two minute “presence breaks” daily—silence, breathe, listen—then jot one impression.
Devotionals
Shhhh... D'Ya Hear That?
How many times have we heard that? Someone telling us to be quiet so we can 'hear that'; like we can hear what they are hearing... or, think they are hearing. Yet, we attempt to eliminate 'other noises' to better help us identify 'that sound'. Our devotional today goes along those same lines... quieting ourselves so we 'can' hear the very voice of God... the calling... the leading. Now, not just anyone can hear God's voice... not just anyone can follow His leading... it's not a coupon, or...
Unexceptional Presence
As we recently discussed in The Meaning of Suffering devotional, the painful events in our lives help strengthen us, help lead us, even help us witness and minister to those around us. One of the saddest 'arguments' people sometimes have about God is that He 'allows' the world to suffer, to tear itself apart, to wreak utter havoc on others. But, suffering is actually a personal thing, unique to each of us. While a crowd or group of people may be viewed as 'suffering', it is quite possible...
Grumbling and Complaining Allowed
Well, to the right person, anyway. Alright, not just any person... someone who knows and understands you better than anyone else. But first, let's understand that grumbling and complaining actually is just an ornery way of venting frustration, disappointment, and dissatisfaction, to name a few. As we'd discussed in the ' Joy Regardlessly ' devotional, we really should find joy and quiet peace in His leading in our lives... but, we 'are' human, we 'do' have limitations, we 'are' a fallen...
Pull Up a Chair
" Pull Up a Chair "... Now that's a phrase that just exudes, 'grab a spot, I've something you'll want to hear'. We seem to naturally do that when our favorite sport game is on, or when you have an opportunity to have an exchange with someone (or a group) who share your hobby interest or passion (finances, politics, music, gardening, etc.). We seem to naturally and eagerly focus our attention, give specific concentration, isolate our thoughts and energy on this 'pull up a chair' topic. Our...