Sent by Jonathan Oh • Oct 8, 2023
I had embarked on my spiritual journey believing that listening to God primarily involved prayer, making requests, and reading the Bible. I eagerly anticipated hearing God’s audible voice, especially when seeking guidance for important matters like a crucial business deal.
However, I gradually realised that this expectation was my own construct of how I wanted to communicate with God and not necessarily what I truly needed. What I needed most was simply Him. God, who knows me intimately, loves me deeply, and cares for my well-being, understood what I truly required. The crucial question was whether I was listening – truly listening – and in what manner I approached this divine conversation.
For much of my life, I had been racing from point A to point B, constantly focused on what was next and driven by a sense of urgency. The relentless rush left me with a gnawing emptiness inside. It was then that I discovered the transformative practice of silence and solitude, a different way to connect with God. I began to deliberately slow down and create intimate moments with Him. “Lord, here I am,” became my mantra.
In these moments, I started to notice the subtle ways God communicated with me every day through His Creation. As a husband, father, son, and leader in both my company and ministry, my life was undeniably hectic. People often asked me how I managed it all. The answer, I realised, lay in emulating Jesus. It meant being consistent in every role I assumed and learning to actively listen to Him.
The Lord led me on a journey of slowing down and focusing on Jesus, and He guided my ongoing walk with Him. Here are some of the key steps I took:
a) Retreats in serene settings like the Methodist Bungalow in Fraser’s Hill allowed me to escape the noise and chaos of daily life, providing a fresh perspective on God’s Creation.
b) Incorporating moments of meditation, reflection and seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance at the start, middle, or end of the day became a daily practice. Even a few minutes of silence in a quiet corner reassured me that the Lord was present through life’s ups and downs.
c) I learned the power of pausing before speaking, occasionally embracing silence, and allowing God to work through me even in my quietude.
d) I became more observant, attuning myself to the messages God was conveying through people, objects, experiences, weather, food, and all aspects of daily life.
Initially, slowing down was challenging. My days were filled with relentless challenges and constant problems. However, as I approached the point of burnout, I recognised God’s gentle prodding to decelerate, lest I faced a life-altering crash. Obedience became my guiding principle, and I embarked on this transformative journey. My daily sacred time with Him was no longer marred by expectations or performance anxiety. Instead, it became a time of pure enjoyment.
These moments of quietude and listening to God renewed and refreshed me, filling me with His peace. A particular scripture, Matthew 6:25-34, held special meaning during my moments of silence and listening. It reminded me of God’s care for every aspect of my life, from finances and sustenance to the grandeur of His Creation.
Through listening, I discovered the incredible attributes of God. He is not only a divine friend but also a Heavenly Father who provides abundantly. He is the God who loved me enough to give everything, and in Him, I found true abundance. This journey has allowed me to live out the purpose He has called me to, to do His good works with the time I have on this earth.
In the end, I stand in awe of what a wonderful friend, Heavenly Father , and the one true God He is. I lost it all, He gave it all, and I gained it all. My life is now a testament to His boundless love, and I cherish every moment of my journey on this Earth, guided by His divine wisdom.