Stop Look Listen

Stop Look Listen

  I bet as we all were growing up we were told to Stop, Look, Listen before we crossed the street. It was ingrained in us. Our parents said it over and over and over again an we would yell back I KNOW!!! We always felt we knew better and some of us just might had some close calls with the car because we did the quick version of Stop, Look, Listen and that was Pause, Look one way, Yell to friend across street. 

   We need to do the same with our relationship with God. Stop, Look, Listen. Each one is just as important as the other.  Without doing all three we are putting ourself at risk of getting run over  in our lives. We also risk missing opportunities because we are not paying attention. Each time we pray and ask for guidance or answers we have to Stop, Look, Listen. 

     First thing to do after we pray is that  we have to Stop. Stop everything. Stop the phone, the texts, the tv, the thoughts, the distractions. Stop doing things also. It may feel like the world stopped turning but trust me it will still turn even without all of these things being on in your life. This does not mean we have to remove these things forever but to stop and turn them off now and again so we can do the next part and that is to look. 

      Second we need to Look. Look around you and see the miracles and signs from God. We zoom through life and miss the signs and miracles around us. We miss the “everyday”. Think about those around you and see the blessings they are in your life. What do they bring to your life? What are the miracles around you? They do not have to be just the grand miracles like healing but can just be the simple ones like getting out of bed, being able to see, walking etc... Make a list of some of the miracles you see around you and when you feel life is hard, look them over. Now the signs in your life. Look for them each day. God may not answer right away or make a great grand parting of the Red Sea kind of sign but He will answer you. Just look and then to the next is to listen. 

      Third is to Listen. Listen to your heart and soul. Listen to all the signs around you. Sometimes the answer may come in a song, words of a friend, bible passage, etc.. When we listen with our whole heart and whole soul we are able to be open to hear the message from God. Do not just listen to what you want to hear but listen to everything. We may not like an answer but we still need to listen to it. 

     When we incorporate Stop, Look, Listen into our prayer lives we are able to create the opportunity to come closer to God and understand what He wants for us and has done for us. If we decide to do the quick version we will miss the everyday miracles and signs from God. We need to take the time to do this right so we will have the graces upon us.

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and remember Stop, Look. Listen.