One of the most natural things that happens when you first start talking to God is that... you do all the talking.
You tell Him everything.
What you're thinking.
What you're feeling.
What you're worried about.
And if you're being honest, it can feel a little one-sided.
But that's okay.
There is no wrong way to start.
There is only growing.
Think about it.
When you first start getting to know someone, you usually talk about yourself.
What you like.
What you've been through.
What matters to you.
But at some point, something shifts.
You become curious.
You start asking:
"What do you think?"
"How do you see this?"
That's when relationship begins to deepen.
And it's no different with God.
There comes a moment when you realize:
"I've been talking at Him... but I haven't really been talking with Him."
And instead of feeling shame in that, receive grace.
God already knew you would start there.
He's not surprised.
He's not frustrated.
He's been patiently waiting for you to ask:
"What do You have to say about that?"
We often think that if we're going to ask God something, it needs to be deep.
Complicated.
Well thought out.
But that's not how this works.
God is not trying to impress you with His intellect.
He's not waiting for your questions to measure up.
Sometimes, you just need simple direction.
Simple answers.
And He knows that.
Now here's where it can feel confusing.
Because hearing from God doesn't always sound the way you expect.
It's not always a voice outside of you.
Most of the time, it may sound like a thought in your own mind.
Sometimes He speaks through:
• A quiet thought
• A sense of knowing
• A scripture that comes to mind
• Something someone says to you
• Even something you notice in the world around you
God is always speaking.
We're just not always aware.
But when you begin to invite Him into the conversation, your focus shifts.
You stop only looking inward and start paying attention.
And over time, you begin to recognize how He speaks to you.
Because here's the truth:
God knows your heart.
He knows exactly how to reach you in a way that you will understand.
So don't try to force it to look like someone else's experience.
For some, it's very clear.
For others, it's subtle.
For most of us, it's something we grow into recognizing.
But there is something important to understand.
Not every thought you have is from God.
This is where knowing His character matters.
God's voice will always align with who He is.
He is:
• Loving
• Patient
• Kind
• Truthful
So if a thought comes in that is:
• Condemning
• Fear-driven
• Harsh
• Confusing
You can pause and ask:
"Does this sound like Him?"
Because the enemy will try to interrupt this process.
Sometimes through fear.
Sometimes through lies.
Sometimes through your own thoughts that feel loud and urgent.
And sometimes even your own ego can speak louder than His gentle voice.
This is why learning His character is not optional.
It's how you begin to recognize Him.
There is also something else that can make people hesitant.
Conviction.
Because sometimes God may lead you to let something go.
A habit.
A pattern.
A relationship.
Something you may not want to release.
And that can feel uncomfortable.
But remember who He is.
He is a good Father.
Everything He asks of you is for your good.
Not to take from you, but to lead you into something better.
So if He asks you to let something go, He will also comfort you in the process.
He will not leave you.
He will not abandon you.
He is near to the brokenhearted.
And in those moments, you can always come back to this:
Tell Him what you're feeling...
and then ask:
"What do You have to say about that?"
He will respond.
It may not always come immediately.
It may not always come the same way.
But He will not leave you in fear.
There have been seasons where I didn't hear Him the same way I once did.
But even in those quiet moments, when I cried out to Him in fear, He always responded with comfort.
If you're unsure where to start, start here:
Pray.
Ask Him to:
• Quiet your thoughts
• Silence the voice of fear
• Remove anything that is not from Him
And then...
be still.
This part can feel the hardest.
Especially if you're used to staying busy.
Especially if your mind wants to keep moving.
But sometimes, hearing Him requires you to slow down enough to receive.
If your environment is too distracting, change it.
Go somewhere quiet.
Step outside.
Sit in your car.
Do whatever helps you become still.
This is not about doing it perfectly.
It's about creating space to listen.
And the more you practice this, the more natural it becomes.
Companion Thought:
If you want to hear God, start by inviting Him into the conversation...
and then make space to listen.
Keep walking right onto Chronicle #8