Week 2 | Connection: In the Gaze of God, Matthew 3

The heart of living in the gaze of God is actively listening to Him. Many of us were discipled in a “belief-centered” system in which becoming more and more grounded in theology and doctrine is what it means to follow Christ. While not taking away from the importance of theological belief, it is important to note that the contemplative way of Jesus is a “relationship-centered” system.

Relationship is about interaction, giving, receiving, and listening. Theology provides a discernment and is necessary, but it is not the point. It is one thing to know cognitively that God loves us, and it is another to hear Him say it to us. In fact, we only become grounded in the love of God when it becomes an experiential, relational reality.

As we engage in listening prayer, we are listening in on God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) loving us. Often, we sense His love. Other times, we hear, “I love you.” Still other times, it is the sound of silence (cf., 1 Kings 19:12) that holds the space.

Listening to that voice of love requires intention, time, and space. While we can access God’s voice at any time, learning to listen well occurs as our “powers of discernment (are) trained by constant practice” (Hebrews 5:14). The process can be difficult. In The Inner Voice of Love, Henri Nouwen commented on what it is like to listen to God’s voice of love: 

It will take a great deal of time and patience to distinguish between the voice of your wounded self and the voice of God, but as you grow more and more faithful to your vocation, this will become easier…

Our vocation is to live in the gaze of God. This is our first and primary calling. The voice of our wounded self describes the ways we are tempted away from the gaze of God and instead to look for what He gives us in other places. Next week, as we look at the temptations of Christ, we gain discernment regarding the voice of the wounded self. 

Our wounds can lead us to having a protective, closed heart. For many of us, hurt, pain, and disappointment have led to a self-protective posture. Because of hurt, we make promises to ourselves: I’ll never open my heart to someone, I’ll never be poor, I’ll never be a victim, I’ll never be looked down on, etc. Our wounds become the spokesperson for our lives, and we make decisions and chart courses based on own woundedness rather than the love of God. 

Listening to that voice of love requires us to have an open, soft heart. The writer of Hebrews (quoting from Psalm 95) three times implores the reader:

Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts …  (3:7-8, 15; 4:7)

This verse assumes that God speaks and that we can listen. If we are going to listen, we are implored to keep our hearts open and receptive. In this moment, is your heart open to God’s voice? Are there things that have hardened your heart? 

Take a few moments and talk to God about the condition of your heart. Ask Him and then notice what He brings to your awareness. As you become aware of anything causing hardness, surrender it to God. Place it in His hands. After working through what God brings to your attention, sit quietly in trust.

Prayer: Lord, I open my heart to You. In Your mercy, help me to keep an open heart that is willing to listen. Amen.