Creating Space to Hear the Spirit

“Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world…” (Romans 12:2)

This exhortation has echoed through every generation of God’s people. From the beginning, Israel was called to live differently - to worship differently, rest differently, and order their lives in ways that reflected their trust in the Lord rather than the patterns of the surrounding culture.

That counter-culture call remains just as relevant today.

It’s easy to reduce “not conforming” to avoiding obvious sin. But today, conformity shows up in subtler ways: in the pace we keep, the noise we tolerate, and the constant pressure to produce, respond, and stay busy.

For me, this has meant recognizing how deeply I’ve conformed to the rhythms of modern life. The noise. The hurry. The constant input. Even when much of that input is good, like sermons, podcasts, books, worship music, it can still crowd out the quiet space where God’s voice is heard most clearly.

The pace and noise I once normalized was actually hindering my ability to listen. For hurry and noise mute the voice of God and are barriers to cultivating an intimate relationship with Him.

A few years ago, I became aware my conformity to pace and noise was quietly diminishing my ability to hear God’s voice. I was doing many right things, yet struggling to create the kind of space that leads to discernment, clarity, and intimacy with the Lord.

So I began to make small, intentional changes.

Creating Space Each Morning

Each morning now, before I open my Bible or begin journaling, I go for a short walk and simply listen for the Lord’s voice in the morning (Is 50:4). I don’t arrive with an agenda. I often just ask “Lord, what do you want me to notice today?” And then I try to remain present.

This has been surprisingly difficult. Especially when I sometimes hear nothing. I’m wired for productivity. I like to have something to show for my time. Filled up journal pages. Extra highlights in my Bible. Etc.

But I’ve learned attentiveness itself is an act of trust. So even when I “hear nothing,” I trust God honors the posture of availability. This has become a quiet but meaningful shift in my relationship with Him.

Creating Space At Church

I am convinced many churches are uncomfortable with silence.

It’s like we believe we’re doing God a favor by filling up every second of a service with music, prayers, transitions and teaching. But I wonder if, in our effort to serve people well, we’ve unintentionally crowded out space for the Spirit to speak directly to them.

Most people are not one more sermon away from radical transformation. But, oh, to help others be still and hear the whispers of God for themselves (Ps 46:10;1 Kn 19:11-13), now that might be truly transformative.

What if part of our calling as church leaders is to help people learn how to listen to the Spirit? What if silence isn’t a gap to be filled, but a gift to be stewarded? What if our churches need to become counter-culture and slow down the pace and noise of our own services?

I’m convinced one of the church’s sacred responsibilities is to help teach its people how to hear the voice of God for themselves. And why not use service time to help create space for their people to hear for themselves.

I will one day commit a longer article to the lack of silence and space in the American church today. But for now, my encouragement to pastors is to create space for your congregation to hear from the Lord. And to readers, encourage your leaders to do so.

Creating space in our gatherings invites people into attentiveness to the Spirit. It teaches them God is not only encountered through words spoken from a stage, but also through being humbly available to His whispering voice.

Creating Space In Community

Living in community is a gift as well as a responsibility for a believer. We are not to isolate ourselves. But it must be held rightly.

That said, living in community does not mean community’s voice is to replace the voice of God.

I’m learning that healthy community doesn’t replace our personal listening; it helps refine it. Too often, we rush to give advice, insights, or direction. But sometimes what’s needed most is simply presence, listening without immediately responding.

In my own life, I’ve begun naming what I need from community more clearly. Sometimes I need discernment. Sometimes I need prayer. Other times, I simply need someone to listen while I process what I believe God may be saying.

Likewise, I’m learning to offer my voice with greater restraint. Not every moment requires my insight. Sometimes the most loving thing I can do is create space for someone else to listen for themselves.

(SUMMARY NOTE: the maturity of the believer you’re walking with matters since there is a good degree of correlation between one’s spiritual maturity and their ability to hear from the Spirit).

Creating Space For Retreats & Silence

I’ve also become convinced of the importance of intentional withdrawal, extended times set apart to be with God. Annual retreats. Occasional days of silence. Space that is protected from productivity and noise.

These aren’t luxuries. They are formative.

They recalibrate our hearts. They remind us that intimacy with God cannot be rushed. And they reorient us toward listening rather than striving (cf Hab 2:1, Jn 10:27, Is 30:21).

Jesus Himself withdrew regularly. If the Son of God needed space to listen to the Father, how much more do we?

A Final Invitation

Jesus once told His disciples, “It is better for you that I go away” (John 16:7).

What a strange statement, unless the goal was always intimacy through the Spirit.

Yet, so many of us would gladly trade any future interactions with the Spirit of God for just one 5-minute face-to-face encounter with Jesus. May it never be!

What if we truly believed that the Spirit of God is not distant, but present and speaking?

What if we made space, real intentional space, to listen?

Perhaps the invitation for this season is simple:

Close the book for a moment.

Turn off the noise.

Resist the urge to perform.

And listen.

I’m convinced if we make space for the Spirit’s voice in our lives, He will fill it with His comfort, enlightenment, wisdom, and love.