As I looked at the sky today I thought to myself that it might rain. I saw the darker clouds rolling in with the stiff breeze. Despite the best radar and scientific equipment it's always easiest to predict rain by looking to the sky.

I have a burden in my heart that is uneasy with the amount of time we devote to listening to God as a church. We are good at talking to God, we are great at asking God for things, and we spend numerous hours complaining as well. There is a lot of talking but not a lot of listening. If we were to approach our human relationships like this they would be unhealthy and one-sided. It's not that we can't listen. We all have things we're willing to listen to. News, gossip, political opinions, or the latest trends. We become good at noticing the new fashion, the hottest music, the most popular movie, the changing political movements, the new technology, or whatever else we are interested in.

You can always tell what is important to you based on the amount of time you give it. That includes time thinking about it, learning about it, doing it, and talking about it. If there is one thing that is worthy of our attention, time, thoughts, actions, and interest it is what God is up to right now. What is God up to right now? ...in your life? ...in our nation?...in the world?

If you have spent your efforts keeping up with fashion, music, media, hobbies, politics, education, and career, it's likely you haven't noticed what God is up to. " Then he turned to the crowd: "When you see clouds coming in from the west, you say, 'Storm's coming'—and you're right. And when the wind comes out of the south, you say, 'This'll be a hot one'—and you're right. Frauds! You know how to tell a change in the weather, so don't tell me you can't tell a change in the season, the God-season we're in right now. " (Luke 12:54-56) Message

Jesus spoke these words to his disciples and to the religious, law-loving, trend-practicing, so-called wise people of that day. They didn't believe he was the Messiah, the Son of God. They didn't think his words were important. They were happier with their way of doing things and their interests than listening to the Son of God speak. They were great at noticing the political unrest and movements of their day, but they were missing out on the movement of grace and redemption that Jesus offered. Are you missing out on the movement of Jesus in your life and your community because you are paying attention to other things that you think are more important?

If you can't learn to practice the art of listening to the voice of God through scripture, godly counselors, and the Holy Spirit, you'll continue to miss out on the movement of Jesus. He is moving, he is redeeming, he is bringing life and hope. Release the things that monopolize your time, let go of that compulsion to be relevant, and start listening and looking for where God is moving. Then join in, and I promise nothing will compare.

- Josh