It is not just intentionality of purpose which finds Me, but it is a heart that stays attentive, which sits focused upon hearing Me speak. For just as sight looks, then sees, hearing is able to center in upon a certain sound. Think of your outer ear as it sits waiting to hear the sounds of daily things, anticipating the noises of the morning. Your outer ear already has the expectation of hearing these stirrings, so is aware and attentive to what is coming.
Attentive is the place for your inner man to dwell as you await My words, with a focused effort on the other One in the relationship, offering undivided attention by keeping your thoughts centered upon Me.
When, where you were once wholehearted has started to wane a little as weariness has begun to affect you, press in all the harder and you will arrive on the other side of breakthrough, holding something of greater value inside. For you will have learned and mastered how to stay attentive to Me; trained your inner man how to just sit and listen, even when the world around is pressing in. So keep trying, don’t throw in the towel; we are just getting started.
But the outer man pulls you away, tugs on your thoughts saying, “Pay attention to me!”, wanting to divert your focus upon the lesser things of this world. Like a spoiled child, it demands all of your interest, never satisfied, it cries out, inserting thoughts of other matters. As if throwing a tantrum, the outer man stomps his foot hoping you will give in and finally yield by allowing him to dictate the direction of your thinking, and cause your mind to wander over his way.
So like a caretaker who has been worn down from battle, “giving in” seems to be the least objectionable option. Then the discipline that would have come from engaging your outer man with firmly set boundaries, has been set aside once again. Reluctantly, the outer man has been allowed the spotlight, his suggestions center stage, for it seems a more agreeable arrangement than the constant battle to subdue him. His ideas and recollections are given the room to remain, granted the permission to be the one in charge of your mind, set to debate My authority. For the outer man has a stubborn streak which has no plans of yielding to Me and will dig his heels in when his position is challenged.
I say the only way to subdue the outer man is by telling him “NO!”; not give his notions any consideration. For his endeavors are meant to maintain his ranking as the one who rules your thoughts and imagination.
By establishing much firmer boundaries, your outer man will soon learn he is not the master. For once he encounters the resistance of one who is determined to dwell in My presence, one who sits resolved, eager and vigilant, ready to keep him from intruding, from overstepping the lower position he has been given, then you will find his concepts have grown less and less appealing for the strength his voice carried has been depleted.
The understanding I offer cannot be found from contemplating the strategies your outer man produces, and are unable to be attained from his way of thinking. The only way to experience a higher thought life is through intentionality and attentiveness, by one whose greater goal is to hear My voice speaking, with the longing to know what My heart is saying; who will not trade in the hard road required by discipline in exchange for the easier route of keeping his outer man satisfied. For this one can only see the benefits generated by going through the process of denial, sensing that what would be attained through its rigorous course as something much more desirable.
To this one, I say continue! Continue to arrive before Me, enter into the courts of My presence, I am ALWAYS there waiting to greet you! But be prepared to deal with your outer man and his attempts to pull at your attention. Shut down his parade of ideas which are meant as bait to lure your thinking down a trail of his own making, leading your thoughts far from Me. DO NOT take the bait!
Instead, choose to remain; remain where My presence dwells. As if I were sitting across the room and your attention was steady, not divided. For “attentive” is the word I am speaking, remain attentive when you come before Me. This is the discipline which needs to be applied in order to see your outer man silenced.
“My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. –Proverbs 2:1-5