There is a huge trend happening in our culture that you already experience everyday. People are so engrained in their smart phone on social media that they are actually missing out on what is happening around them. They are busier telling people on Facebook about being on a date than they are talking to their date. They are more consumed with posting pictures of their kids at the playground than they are actually playing with their kids on the playground. It is quite disturbing actually. Though I am not a social media/smart phone hater, I can’t help but notice, and even sometimes guilty, of talking more about people than just being with them. I am concerned this damaging practice is bleeding over to our spiritual lives as well.

You see, there is a huge difference between talking about God and talking to Him. Most people talk more about God than they talk to Him. We spend more time talking about how we need God to intervene in our situations than we do actually asking Him how we wants to intervene into our situations. We are quick to tell people how we are waiting on God, but how much time do we spend with God while we are waiting on Him?

Though it is a great thing to talk about God, we need to make sure we are spending a great deal of time talking to Him. Not missing the moments with God because we are so caught up talking about Him and just going through our spiritual routines.

Here is a spiritual litmus test for you…

• Is your first response in a challenge to turn your ear to God for wisdom?
• Do you make time to intentionally listen to what God is saying to you?
• Do you find yourself going weeks, months, or years without marching orders from the Lord?
• What was the last thing God told you to do?
• Who was the last person God told you to do something for?
• How have you had to change something in your behavior because God lead you to?
• What was the last thing God told you that stretched your faith?

Those are some questions that we have to ask ourself in order to be challenged. If we do not know the answer to some of these questions we may be in need of a spiritual tune up. We may need to tweak our life to get in alignment with the God of the universe who wants to share His heart with us. God is not silent, He speaks to His children. So how much time are you spending talking to Him?

Here are a few tips to help you be more intentional about talking to God…

1) Don’t wait for extra time to meet with God, MAKE TIME!

2) Be specific about what you are asking God for. DON’T BE VAGUE. Be exact so you know when He answers you.

3) Write down what you feel God is saying and leading you in. OTHERWISE YOU’LL FORGET! Trust me on this…you really will forget. The biggest lie we tell ourselves is…”I don’t need to write this down, surely I can remember that!” Check out this blog post about “HOW TO NEVER FORGET ANYTHING”

4) Get yourself in environments that will make it easier for you to hear God…LIKE CHURCH! But there are other ways like…Listening to worship music (check out my new original worship song I wrote), going to a Bible study, getting involved in a small group, watching a documentary or teaching about spiritual matters. Listen to my podcast FAITHOLOGY. Read great books that will help you, like my book FAITHOLOGY: 12 Ideas To Rock Your Faith.

5) Create a habit of talking to God all throughout the day. Think of Him as being with you every moment…because He is. Acknowledge Him and bring Him into your everyday life in everything you do.

There is a battle between talking about God vs. talking to Him. Make sure talking to Him wins the victory and you’ll live a more victorious life.