I felt God lay this word on my heart this morning while I was getting ready to take my girls to school. I had been praying through a few things the last few days – my heart searching for Gods answer, eagerly waiting to hear Him speak. And just like that, I felt this word drop into my heart: ‘misfiring.’

I love watching my toddlers play with each other. They often sit on the floor, while eating breakfast, and have a big fat chat. Sophie is three and Paige is nearly two. Sophie can have full on conversations with you at this age, but Paige is still learning to string words together. However, that doesn’t stop them from chatting up a storm while smearing porridge all over the floor. It’s as if they completely understand what the other one is saying. Paige nods, and often says ‘no no’ and Sophie just carries on talking. She leads and Paige follows. Again, as if they completely understand one another.

I look at my girls and think, how is it possible that my three-year-old and two-year-old can have a full on conversation like that, fully understanding each other while little words are used – yet sometimes I struggle to have moments like these with my God.

I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. Psalm 17:6

I love that God has woven dialogue into our DNA. He did this so that we can have a relationship with him. A relationship marked by two-way communication, meaningful conversations, and ‘fat chats’. He is a relational God, and we are created in His likeness.

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27

The first thing we need to understand is that God longs to talk to us. Often we get caught up with the notion that God doesn’t speak or that we can’t hear Him. Hearing God flows out of a healthy relationship with Him. A healthy relationship requires time spent with God. Time spent reading His Word and praying. We’re so quick to throw out unjust statements like, ‘God isn’t there’ or ‘God doesn’t speak to me.’ None of which are true. He does speak, to all of us. Are you listening?

“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Revelation 2:7

As I make my second cup of coffee for the day, perplexed and heavy-hearted – I cry out to God, desperate to hear Him speak again. It’s one of those days where He chooses to be a little quieter than normal. But I press on anyway. His voice is the fuel that reignites my heart, like a breath of fresh air on a stuffy summers day. And when I don’t hear Him my heart misfires and fails to comply. It’s a heart longing for more of Him. Our hearts are created to know Him and respond to His voice. To know He is near, comforts my misfiring heart. His Word assures me that He will never leave me nor forsake me.

My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. John 10:27

“I will never leave you alone, never! And I will not loosen my grip on your life!” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:5‬

It’s easy to make excuses for why we don’t spend time with God. But my friends, I encourage you – let us not be caught with hearts that misfire, like a missile that fails to detonate. Instead, let us be caught with hearts on a mission, in full pursuit of knowing our King.

Having a relationship with God, hearing His voice and understanding His Word does not require a Ph.D. Rather, it’s something that is deeply ingrained in every single one of us. It’s at our core. It’s woven into our DNA. Because that’s who we were created to be. We were created to live in life-union with our Creator.