Listener: The Holy Spirit did not call me to the Mountain this morning, but He did awaken me at the beginning of the Fifth Watch. At first I was distressed because He had not called me earlier. I began to ask for forgiveness for anything I might have done to displease Him and to ask to be made a tabula rasa so that I might receive His message for you. His only response was This is not about what you want, but what I want. Be quiet and listen. Listener: But I could not remain quiet. I tried, but I kept on praying. He continued to tell me to be quiet and listen. As I struggled to remain quiet, I thought “At least I am hearing Him tell me to be quiet!” Then, to my great relief, Holy Spirit began to speak: This is not a time for your petition; it is a time to receive. Listener: He told me that I was experiencing what many of you experience, difficulty in being quiet before Him. He said: This morning I wanted you to remember what it was like to have difficulty focusing on Me even when you try to be quiet and listen. You must tell those to whom I have called you to speak that I understand how hard it is for them to hear; how the demands of their daily lives and the attacks of the enemy interfere. But the fact that I understand does not mean that I do not long for a few quiet moments with each one of them. For those who partake of daily communion, this often gives Me a quiet time to speak and to have them hear. Morning prayer also gives them an opportunity to hear. However, as you observed this morning when you began to pray after I did not awaken you to go to the mountain, your shield of faith was not in place, and the fiery darts of doubt penetrated to make you fear that you might not hear My message. I was speaking to you then, but you could not hear because you were not able to wait quietly before Me. A quiet heart, one which can receive My words, comes from laying all of your burdens, cares and concerns at My feet and then taking the time to wait quietly before Me. A single word from Me can change the course of your entire day and sometimes the course of your entire life. Listener: Then He gave me these personal words of instruction and encouragement. Listener, remember that my purpose is not only to teach through you, it is also to train those to whom you speak to become Listeners, This is why you must allow them to walk with you as you listen, including those times when you stumble. Tomorrow morning we will meet on the :ountain. P.S. by the Listener: This is one of the many reasons why I treasure hearing Holy Spirit’s voice, HE IS SO REAL! As we talk He becomes more real than anything else in my life. A few days ago I asked Him for “special guidance” about something, and He replied : All of My guidance is special!