“Make me to know thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me for thou art the God of my salvation; for thee I wait all the day long.” –Psalm 25:4-5
One of the most significant moments of my faith journey took place when I was 16-years-old. I took part in a 3-day retreat called Chrysalis. It was a wonderful experience. The event was filled with challenging discussions about faith, beautiful worship and lots and lots of food. This event provided me an opportunity to encounter God and strengthen my faith.
The Chrysalis retreat was a well-planned event. The teachings were informative. All of these things helped to make for a great experience. However, there was one thing that helped to make this a significant moment for me. I lost my voice the day before the event began. I had come down with a serious case of laryngitis. It would be several days until I got my voice back. Because I could not speak, I spent the weekend listening. To say the least, this was a difficult task for me.
The reason that this weekend was so significant was this is when I received my call into the ministry. I believe I heard God’s leading for one simple reason; I was listening.
Listening is not easy. There are so many things that compete for our attention. We often find it hard to be quiet, long enough to listen. Our busy schedules keep us on the move. Our technology is mobile and constantly calling for our attention.
When I was placed in a situation where I was able to listen I was able to hear a new possibility for my life. This moment taught me that God wants to speak to us. God wants to show us His path for our lives. The challenge for us is to intentionally listen. When we commit our time and our focus to God we put ourselves in a position for God to, “teach” us God’s ways for our lives.
Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
