Implementing rhythms to help us hear God

Nov 15, 2026 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

Are you thriving, striving, or surviving in your relationship with God? What practices are you implementing to help you hear God clearly? Do you have daily, weekly, monthly, and annual rhythms that support your relationship with God? What about pausing at Easter and Christmas or at significant milestones? Join us as we explore this topic and share practices we have found helpful for hearing God.

Episode Notes:

Introduction:

  • Episode 77 – Unpacking the word of the year and for each month – Jane explained her process.
  • Episodes 88 -92 – Hearing God in various seasons – winter, spring, summer and autumn.
  • On our website – we have a free PDF download called ‘Hearing God for the year ahead.’ Great questions to prompt reflection on the past year and changes you may want to make in your life.

Rhythms are a part of life.

  • Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.”
  • Solomon spoke about the importance of proper timing. God loves order.  We see it in how the sun rises, and the moon fades.  We see it in how our physical seasons change.
  • There are rhythms in nature. We all have rhythms. More about how intentional we are in our rhythms. Eg at a red light – pelvic floor exercises, daughter kisses husband. When Jane gets in the car, she starts thanking God. On Sunday evenings, Jane likes to plan out her week and month.
  • They reckon it takes 21 days for an action to become a habit – automatic.
  • Looking specifically at rhythms versus seasons, we read in Genesis 1 that God rested after creating for 6 days.
  • Life is full of rhythms and the juggle of the opposites/paradoxes – action/contemplation, pain/joy, silence/noise, work/rest. Finding the balance.
  • Psalm 1:3 “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose life does not wither – whatever they do prospers.”

First Principle: Look at your current lifestyle

  • Are you hurried, chaotic, reactive, distracted, exhausted, always tired?
  • What rhythms do you currently have in place to help you grow in God and hear Him?
  • What daily, weekly, monthly, and annual rhythms do you implement? It can also be helpful to pause at significant milestones and review your rhythms. Also, Christmas and Easter rhythms.
  • Do you have a daily time of reading or listening to the Bible, praying, fasting, journalling, meditation, practising a Sabbath, silence, gratitude, worship, simplicity, solitude, celebration, etc
  • Deuteronomy 8:3 – man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God. A call to stop, read the Bible, listen to God.
  • Matthew 6:16-18 “When you fast…” not “If you fast”
  • Exodus 20: 8-11 – the Sabbath explained – work for 6 days, rest for one. Now, we don’t want to be legalistic like the Pharisees with Jesus in Mark 2:23-28. A weekly Sabbath can be a time to take an intentional break, create space by removing everyday pressures, and listen to God without distraction.
  • Sometimes it is not about having a vision for the huge outcome, but about being faithful in the small, daily practices. I was struck recently when reading about David in 1 Samuel 17. He obeyed his father and set out that day to take lunch to his brothers who were fighting. He didn’t set out to kill Goliath. He took one step at a time. His daily practice had fine-tuned him into an expert killer of lions with a stone.
  • Same with Esther – she didn’t set out to save the Jewish nation. She was trying to stay alive because she had been kidnapped and prostituted to the king.
  • What daily practices are you implementing so you are ready when called upon?
  • Are you currently in a season of thriving, striving, or surviving?
  • Thriving – a season of peace with room for growth.
  • Striving – busy hustling, or the emotional toll of the season makes life seem harder.
  • Surviving – a season of chaos, grief, despair, and a hard slog.

Second Principle: Look at what needs changing in your life

  • As seasons change, our rhythms and practices sometimes need to change.
  • Transitions bring change. Embrace the transition and changes.
  • An invitation to upgrade your relationship with God and perhaps try something new with hearing God.
  • That little bit of extra time may offer an opportunity to hear God through creativity, explore nature, or walk on the beach.
  • Reflect on the past and dream of the new.
  • Use this time to assess what you want to keep, what you would love to change and what you want to experiment with.
  • Sometimes, even just writing down where you’ve come from and where you would love to be can bring clarity.
  • Try a spiritual mentor. Someone who will help you hear God afresh amid life’s ups and downs and daily rhythms.
  • Are there new daily rhythms you would love to instigate?
  • Have an intentional break to create space to listen to God without distraction by removing everyday pressures.
  • Sometimes, we unconsciously avoid these rhythms because we don’t want God to challenge us. It can be easier to coast along in life.
  • What practices do you want to create space for to bring life, peace and joy?
  • How do you best experience rest, restoration, connection and opportunity to create?
  • If you look at the life of Jesus – He intentionally withdrew after times of ministry and intense people stimulation. Mark 1:9-13 – after His baptism, he spent 40 days with God in the wilderness. When crowds followed him, he would then withdraw and retreat to pray. Mark 1:35 – got up early to spend time with God.

Third Principle: Start with the big picture and narrow down.

  • Where are you heading long term?
  • You are the captain of your life’s ship – if you adjusted 1 degree, where could you end up differently?
  • You don’t have to have this all sorted immediately. Take it one step at a time. Like eating an elephant – one bite at a time.
  • Important to carve out time to hear from God.
  • Also, look at where God is currently working in your life, and where God is currently directing you.
  • What rhythms do you need to implement daily, weekly, monthly, and annually so that you can hear God clearly?

Summary:

  1. Look at your current lifestyle.
  2. Look at what needs changing in your life.
  3. Start with the big picture and narrow down.

Prophetic activation:

I encourage you to turn your heart and thoughts to Father God, and ask Him:

  • “God, what’s one rhythm you’d like me to implement or change?”

Time Stamps:

[0:38] – Gary & Jane share how they have heard God this week.

[3:56] – Introduction to implementing rhythms to help us hear God.

[6:27] – Rhythms are a part of life.

[9:10] – First Principle: Look at your current lifestyle.

[15:13] – Second Principle: Look at what needs changing in your life.

[22:14] – Third Principle: Start with the big picture and narrow down.

[23:47] – Summary.

[24:10] – Prophetic activation.

[25:00] – Gary & Jane share a prophetic word for a listener.

[26:47] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
  • Genesis 1
  • Psalm 1:3
  • Deuteronomy 8:3
  • Matthew 6:16-18
  • Exodus 20:8-11
  • Mark 2:23-28
  • 1 Samuel 17
  • Esther
  • Mark 1:9-13
  • Mark 1:35

Connect with Gary & Jane:

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