Week: How to Hear God
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Holy Spirit, You are the best teacher. As we explore the Bible and listen to You, please help us to understand more about You, and draw closer to You.
Henri Nouwen was born in the Netherlands in 1932. He was a Catholic priest, but he also studied to become an expert in psychology, which is all about our minds and how we think and feel.
Let’s REFLECT on a few verses from Psalm 139 that speak to us about how God cares about our thoughts and our feelings.
Read by Vera Lynn
Psalm 139:1-6
God, investigate my life;
get all the facts firsthand.
I’m an open book to you;
even from a distance, you know what I’m thinking.
You know when I leave and when I get back;
I’m never out of your sight.
You know everything I’m going to say
before I start the first sentence.
I look behind me and you’re there,
then up ahead and you’re there, too—
your reassuring presence, coming and going.
This is too much, too wonderful—
I can’t take it all in!
Psalm 139:1-6 (MSG)
As both a Catholic priest and a psychologist Henri Nouwen believed that people’s feelings and their emotions, and how they expressed these through their bodies, mattered to God as much as what they thought about God. He felt that knowing God wasn’t just about growing in ‘head knowledge’, but it was also to do with our hearts.
‘The knowledge of Jesus’ heart is a knowledge of the heart,’ he said. ‘And when we live in the world with that knowledge, we cannot do other than bring healing, reconciliation, new life, and hope wherever we go’.*
Throughout his life, Henri Nouwen gave talks and wrote books to help people be more whole. He tried to help people to connect with God in normal, everyday ways, using normal, everyday language, because he believed that this would help people to find peace for themselves and then share that peace with others.
Let’s pause and talk about today’s question which is: What helps us to feel at peace? What do we do when we feel a bit stressed that helps us to calm down?
And now, let’s ASK God to help us and others.
Loving God, we offer you the thoughts in our minds and the feelings in our hearts. When we feel sad or worried or confused, we ASK you to fill our minds and hearts with your peace.
Loving God, we ASK You to help us notice when any of our family or friends are feeling sad or worried or confused too. Show us how we can love them and help to make-peace in their lives.
Henri Nouwen eventually became a famous teacher, working at one of the world’s best universities. However towards the end of his life he gave up this impressive job to care for people with serious learning disabilities.
Some people were confused by this – why would anyone give up such an important job? But Henri understood that there were more important things than being famous or respected. Sharing God’s love with people, especially those who felt rejected or left out by others, was far, far more important. What a beautiful example for us to follow.
Pause
And now, let’s say YES to God together using the words of a prayer that Henri wrote about trusting God to take care for us.
I so much want to be in control.
I want to be the master of my own destiny.
Still I know that you are saying:
‘Let me take you by the hand and lead you.
Accept my love and trust that where I will bring you,
the deepest desires of your heart will be fulfilled.’
Lord, open my hands to receive your gift of love.
Amen.**
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
* Henri Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus, p.27
**https://henrinouwen.org/meditation/a-prayer/
Chris lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two boys. He works for 24-7 Prayer Australia and Red Church and is also a professional musician. When he’s not working or drumming Chris enjoys going on long hikes in the mountains with his boys and playing table tennis.
Vera Lynn is 10 years old and lives in Phoenix, Arizona, USA with her parents, sister, and dog Max. Her favourite hobbies include reading, knitting, sewing, and embroidery. She is very creative. Her favourite book is The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in the Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis.
