Today I was visiting the York St Church of Christ in Ballarat - great place! - and I felt God present and speaking to me in a way which I haven't felt for a long time. I suddenly realized that this is what I have been missing. I have been praying and going to church intermittently, sometimes in Melbourne and sometimes here, and I have nothing regular or stable in my spiritual life. I have been praying for guidance and not hearing anything specific, probably because I have no room in my lift to listen.
It occurs to me that I have lost my old enthusiasm for the spiritual disciplines of Bible study, regular fasting and prayer, but not replaced them with anything else. The search for new and interesting forms of spirituality is all very well, but I feel that to have God as a constant presence in my life, I need to put aside regular time and attention to listen for Him.
I don't think it is fair or reasonable to come to God only in times of crisis and ignore Him otherwise. (Even if He would allow it, and He might, it would not be optimal for my own spiritual growth.) I want to listen for/to God every day, and I feel sure that He will have something to say!
So here's the plan: I will buy a new study Bible and read it every day and make notes in the margins or on looseleaf in the pages (can't think without a pen in my hand). The experiment begins next week, after I get to a bookshop...
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