Sacred Listening: God’s Notifications Are Always On
We began our new sermon series last Sunday by exploring the idea of Sacred Listening. At its heart, sacred listening is a spiritual practice; a way of being present to God, to others, and to ourselves with attention, intention, and openness. In a culture where noise and distraction are constant companions, sacred listening invites us to step into a different rhythm. It asks us to trust that when we truly listen, something Holy can happen.
Sacred listening requires attention. Not just hearing sounds or words, but bringing our full presence to a moment, a person, or a prayer. It also calls for intent, a willingness to hear, even when the message challenges or unsettles us. And it depends on connection. True listening is rooted in relationship. It happens when there is enough trust to create a sacred space where honesty can live. When these three qualities: attention, intent, and connection come together, the Holy Spirit can move. That is when hearts are softened, wisdom is shared, and healing begins.
This week, we reflect on the theme: “God’s Notifications Are Always On.” The image may be modern, but the truth is ancient. God is always speaking, always reaching toward us in love. The challenge is not whether God is communicating, it is whether we are listening.
Sometimes God’s voice arrives in unexpected ways. A passage from Hosea reminds us of how uncomfortable it can be when God’s message disturbs the peace we have settled into. God’s words can upend our assumptions, asking us to see what we would rather avoid. Yet even when the message is hard, it is never without hope. God’s notifications are not meant to shame us, they are meant to call us home.
Other times, God speaks through longing, for restoration, for justice, for peace. Sunday’s Psalm speaks of listening for God’s voice, expecting peace and mercy. It paints a picture of love and faithfulness meeting, of righteousness and peace embracing. These are not just poetic ideals; they are the fruits of sacred listening. When we tune in to God’s message, we begin to hear not only correction, but also compassion. We hear the promise that even dry places can bloom again.
The apostle Paul reminded us to stay grounded in what we have received in Christ. Sacred listening helps us do that. It keeps us from being carried away by the noise of the moment or the pressure to conform to lesser truths. Listening with the Spirit means remembering who we are: beloved, forgiven, made alive with Christ. And that identity is not something we earn, it is something we receive and renew each time we return to prayer, community, and the table.
Jesus’ teaching on prayer in this week’s Gospel is a call to persistence. He doesn’t give us a formula as much as he gives us a way of relating. “Ask,” he says. “Seek.” “Knock.” These are not passive acts. They are postures of expectation. And perhaps more importantly, they are acts of trust. Jesus assures us that God hears. That the door will be opened. That the gift we receive is not just an answer, but the Spirit itself.
To say that God’s notifications are always on is to trust that God is continually reaching out, through scripture, through silence, through beauty, through the words of another. But it also means recognizing that our devices, our calendars, and even our internal distractions can drown out that Holy voice. Sacred listening invites us to pause and turn toward God with our whole selves.
It is not always easy. Listening can be uncomfortable. It requires humility and patience. But over time, this kind of listening shapes us. It becomes prayer. It becomes discernment. It becomes love.
As we continue this series, we are not just learning how to listen better, we are learning how to trust the One who is always speaking. May we quiet our hearts enough to hear. May we be bold enough to respond. And may we discover, again and again, that God has never stopped reaching out to us in grace.
Kevin+
