A
reminder for today
But
Micaiah replied, "If you return safely, it will mean that the LORD has not
spoken through me!" Then he added to those standing around, "Everyone
mark my words!" (2 Chronicles 18:27)
How are you today my dear friend? The week is rushing by
and by now we are often tired and in need of the weekend. Take a moment to
relax and just listen. We so often lose out on the opportunity to hear God or
just to listen. In all this rush we need to find time just to focus ourselves
on God and to hear His voice. Living in the Kingdom means that we need to know
the needs and desires of our king. This means we need to hear what our king
says.
He conversed with Adam in the first garden. He told Noah
to build an ark. He spoke to Moses in a burning bush. He promised Abraham a
son. Paul heard His voice on the way to Damascus. But does God still speak to
us today? If so, how? When? Where?
Often when people ask this question, they are talking
about an audible voice. And God can do that. He can do anything He wants. He’s
God. Why then, can’t I hear God speak to me audibly, someone might ask?
I can’t answer questions that the Bible does not make
clear. And the way God works is one of those questions. I do think “hearing God
speak” may mean different things to different people. To some, it may suggest,
“I need answers for my life, or this particular crisis.” Another may say, “I’ve
asked God for something, but He never answers me."
God treats each of us as unique children. None of us are
cookie-cutter Christians. Because of that, God doesn’t “speak” the same way to
all of us. However, here are eight ways God often uses to communicate with us.
1 - Through His
Word in general - 2 Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is “God-breathed.” His
Word sometimes gives us a warning, a word of encouragement, or a lesson for
life. It’s ”His-story”–written with love as God’s guide for life, “so that the
man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 - Through His Son, Jesus
Christ - Through the words of Jesus in Scripture, we can “hear” God’s heart and
God’s voice–and know what God is truly like. These words were not written for a
few, select individuals who could jump through the right spiritual hoops (“For
God so loved the world…”). Someone in Africa, in Germany, in China, and in
Alabama can “hear” Jesus’ voice by reading the same Bible.
3 - Through Nature and God’s
Creation - Through the intricate details and magnificent beauty of all that God
has made, we can “hear” His voice. How? By observing the ant’s strength to
store up food all summer long, we learn about wisdom and industriousness. By
studying the heavens, we understand more of God’s greatness. And through
planting and growing a garden, we “hear” about miracles of death and rebirth.
God designed–and spoke them all into existence.
4 - Through Other Believers - God
may use a friend, a teacher, a parent, or a preacher to convey His message of
truth to us. Their words may come as a warning, a blessing, or as a prophetic
truth about our lives. Whether we choose to hear it or ignore it, depends on
us. Do their words line up with Scripture? Will God confirm or affirm that
truth in us? “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then
peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial,
and sincere” (James 3:17, NIV).
5 - Through Music - Perhaps one
of the ways I can sense God’s presence the most and “hear” His voice the best
is when I am praising Him through music.
6 - Through Circumstances - When
others claim to hear God through circumstances, I try to caution them to test
their conclusions with other evidence. God is a Holy God, and often uses
circumstances to get our attention. But He will usually confirm it in other
ways.
7 - Through His Spirit - Some
may call it “God’s whispers,” while others say, “God’s still, small voice.” We
are made in the image of God, and when we confess Jesus and follow Him as our
Lord and Saviour, His Spirit comes to live in us (John 14:17, 1
Corinthians 3:16). God’s Spirit speaks to us through our conscience, helping to
make the right decision. When we’re tempted, that same Spirit warns and nudges
us to do the right thing.
8 - Through Prayer - God often
speaks to us through His Spirit, through prayer. We may not know how to pray,
but God’s Word tells us His spirit makes intercession for us (Romans 8:26-27).
Often through a combination of
fasting and prayer, our minds become clearer and our hearts are more sensitive
to God. Again, we may not hear God’s literal voice, but His Spirit confirms a
certain direction or answer for us. As the distractions fade, we can sense His
leading in a new way. Sometimes while praying, God’s Spirit will remind us of a
Scripture or a truth in His Word that we can directly apply to the situation.
Does God speak to all of us the
same way? No, we are all unique. Regardless of the way God chooses to reveal
Himself or “speak” to us today, remember one truth. He will never contradict
His Word, and the message He gives will always bring glory to God. The Bible
warns about adding anything to the already written, God-breathed Word of God,
or accepting any other messenger who claims to be superior to Jesus (Revelation
22:18-19;2 Corinthians 11:4).
Have and awesome day dear friend of Jesus
Cheers
(Reference – Rebecca Barlow Jordan)
