Why can't I hear from God?

Have you ever tried to read God's word and just can't get what's being said? Or you know that you should understand it but you just cannot hear from God. Why doesn't He speak to me? Does He care? What's up with this?

I was there this morning. My walk with the Lord is good and typically I hear from Him in His word. So when I don't hear from Him, I have to look at me. See, God always wants to speak to His children. If you meet Him, He always shows up, but He cannot be heard over sin. Sin shouts, rattles, bangs or literally plugs the ears of your heart to God. That's why the steps of recovery are so amazing. Once you get past making amends and cleaning out your sin closet, so to speak, you need to keep it clean. I'll give you an example of my closet, please understand I'm not a fabulous housekeeper; not a real neat freak, but I have been working on keeping our closet clean and organized. It took me a full day to get rid of clothes, and refold and hang all the shirts in one place and put neat stacks, you get the idea right? It took a full day. Now that it's done, the real challenge is keeping it that way! Idon't want to go back to the OLD CLOSET! The "cleaning" is like steps four and five of recovery, but it's the daily inventory step that keeps my closet clean. My life clean before the Lord so I can hear from Him in His word.

What does a daily inventory look like?

How do I keep short accounts with God so I can hear from Him?

Here's some questions I ask myself when I can't hear God.

1. Have I done something I know is wrong?
2. Have I hurt someone?
3. Was I prideful or mean?
4. Have I not done something I know I should do?

If I ask, " Lord what is keeping me from hearing from you?" and then just be still . . God will show me. The "BE STILL" part is important. I do mean be still, quite, no wiggling, just still. God will reveal it to you. Once He reveals your sin . . . deal with it, confess it, make it right, do whatever God tells you to do. It's called obedience.

Roman 6:23 says the wages, (payment) of sin is death. We typically see this in reference to salvation and that is true. If you don't accept the free gift of payment for your sin by placing your faith and trust in Jesus Christ and His death on the cross to pay for that sin, then you have to pay for your sin yourself. Salvation is once for all, all my sin forgiven, past present and future. But I think this verse could also means that if you don't deal with your sin, daily, straighten that closet of your life, then you are separated from God in fellowship,relationship, closeness, that hearing from Him that He desires. Clear communication with Him, from Him, not plugged up by sin.

1 John 1:9 tells us "If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Want to hear from God? Ask Him what's stopping you; listen and respond in obedience.