Let God Talk to You: When You Hear Him, You Will Never Be the Same

CHAPTER 7

Develop the Discipline of

Hearing God Talk

Our compulsive, wordy, and mind-oriented world has a firm grip on

us, and we need a very strong and persistent discipline not to be

squeezed to death by it.

Henri Nouwen 1

Discipline is not a very hip icon of the twenty-first century. In
fact, for decades our culture has been characterized by time-
saving, calorie-reducing, age-defying, money-growing
shortcuts designed to replace hard work or decrease the need
for self-control. We don’t chase after a more disciplined life; we
chase after anything that offers us more freedom!

So even though I know the backlash and arguments attached
to a word that inherently promises sacrifice and surrender, I am
still compelled to ask you to consider developing the discipline
of hearing God talk.

Why am I so adamant?

First, I’m most concerned that if you hang on to
misconceptions or excuses (such as, “God wouldn’t want me to
pray if I don’t feel like it” or “Prayer is for the elderly”) or
ignore the consequences resulting from lack of prayer and
discount its benefits, you’ll fail to hear God talk to you at a