LISTEN to Our Lord!

It is often a real challenge to "listen" to what the Lord has to say and wants us to do for Him! Even with practicing the spiritual disciplines of  "solitude and silence," I'm am often unsure what God is saying to me. The reading of scriptures and Christian material certainly helps, but what happens after that reading? For me, I quickly forget unless I take time to be quiet and focus on what I have read - and then seek guidance from God.

How do you know you are "listening" to the Lord? The scripture from John 10:27 puts it clearly. "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me." Is it really God's voice and guidance that I "hear and follow?" or is it voices of the world? My spiritual director has suggested to me on several occasions to be aware of the nudges or "coincidences" that seem to be leading me to God's Will.

The second verse of the hymn, "Open My Eyes That I May See" states, "Open my ears that I may hear." Please share ways that you KNOW you are listening to God instead of the world.