It takes time, but eventually sheep grow familiar with the voice of their shepherd and learn to trust him for everything they need. So how can you become equally familiar with the voice of God? Here are a few ideas:

1) Give God your waking thoughts. With your head on your pillow and your eyes still closed, offer God the first seconds of your day. Say, ‘Thank You for a night’s rest. Today I belong to You.’ C. S. Lewis wrote: ‘The moment you wake up each morning…all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.’

2) Give God your waiting thoughts. The mature married couple has learned the treasure of shared silence; they don’t need to fill the air with constant chatter. Just being together is sufficient. Try being silent with God. ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10 NIV). Awareness of God is the result of stillness before God. Jesus prayed, ‘That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me’ (John 17:21 NIV). When are you most deeply aware of Christ’s presence ‘in you’ as He promised? To what degree have you consciously invited Him to be more and more at home in your heart? How has your practice of intimacy with God developed in the last few years?