We need daily time with God in his Word and in prayer, as well as time with God’s people (Heb. 10:25). We need time to hear God’s story to teach us about how things really are. We need time to turn off the noise and listen to his goodness again—first, in his Word and second, in each other (2 Tim. 3:10–17; 2 Cor. 3:1–18).

Christians who can no longer listen to one another will soon no longer be listening to God either. ― Dietrich Bonhoeffer

What do habits have to do with hearing God? Actually, a lot.

Habits can be good or bad, distracting or uplifting. They can bring us closer to God and others, or drive us farther away. Their importance is often misunderstood, and we can become easily susceptible to forming destructive habits that hamper our entire lives.

Today, it is no surprise that we have become addicted to a fast-paced life. People everywhere are exhausted, and yet we don’t know how to get off this hamster wheel. Some pressing issue is always on our minds. Some piece of technology interrupts us from concentration or peace.

Amid this growing noise, we may lose our ability to hear those closest to us and therefore lose our ability to hear from God. Maybe part of the reason we see so many tensions and problems in colleges and schools today is that we are no longer able to listen. We have all these means of communication, all this information, but we cannot really hear. No one is listening, even though most people are talking, texting, or typing.

Sadly, the more outlets we have for immediate expression, the more voiceless our society has become. The habits that we have made and shaped for ourselves perpetuate this lack of communication, and this is especially true when it comes to hearing God. It becomes easier and easier to not even try.

[Editor’s note: This article is incomplete. The link (URL) to the original article is unavailable and has been removed.]