Today’s Reading: Acts 13:1-25

2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
Acts 13:2

How do we hear from God? 

Prayer, of course, is a two-way street, with our hearts engaging with God’s heart. Not all forms of prayer require speech, but in some forms, we speak to God and, sometimes, we hear back from God. Illuminating the variety of ways to pray was why I wrote Prayer Changes Us.

It’s easy to consider how we speak to God, but how do we hear from God? Scripture speaks frequently of characters across both testaments hearing from God. Here in chapter 13, we find the same. The disciples hear from God after “worshiping” and “fasting.” Fasting is again mentioned in verse 3. 

When we have big questions, when we’re trying to make a decision, when we’re discerning next steps, when we’re wondering why life is this way, when, like in the reading from Ezekiel today, we question why God is unfair, we want an answer. And how do we hear that answer? How do we hear from God? 

Consider that God’s first language is silence. Again and again in scripture, it’s in the silence that God speaks. We need still and quiet souls to hear from God. Our human nature tends us toward action, but being busy keeps us from hearing from God. 

Fasting stills the soul. Giving up something regular to our routine and turning toward stillness, a quietude of the soul, gives us space to actually hear from God. Fasting means simply giving up anything usual to our routine; something whose absence we’ll notice. This can be food, the stereotypical way to fast, but it can be screens, social media, reading for pleasure, or many other things.

In fact, it’s fair to say that God speaks more often than we are ready to listen, busy as we are. 

Think
How often am I still? How often do I take space to listen to God? Have I ever tried fasting?

Pray
Next time you have a question, or want to hear from God, fast as a form of prayer. 

Do
Take time today to learn more about fasting.

Think, Pray, Do. As we respond in faith to scripture, God moves in power through our minds, hearts, and bodies. We are the people of God. Thanks for reading today. Go in peace. Amen.

Think, Pray, Do devotionals by Ted Goshorn follow the suggested bible reading plan from his website and book, Prayer Changes Us. Find this Bible reading plan at tedgoshorn.org/biblereading. If you have found today’s devotion helpful, don’t forget to subscribe for daily emails at tedgoshorn.org and share with others that we may think, pray, and do faithfully.