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Listening To God

Posted by arsindelve, Executive Director, Delve Christian Ministries
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"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

One of the concepts we've tried to emphasize in the last few devotionals is the idea that our relationship with Jesus has much in common with our relationships with friends and family. When we demonstrate effort and commitment in our relationships, they flourish. When neglected or abandoned, they suffer and decline.

Last week's devotional talked about the difficulty many of us have with attentive listening, so with that in mind, let's look at how we can apply everything from that devotional to our relationship with Jesus.

Does God talk to us? Can we actually perceive God communicating with us? Absolutely! God does not typically speak in an audible voice, but he most certainly is speaking with us. The voice of God whispers directly into our heart and soul, guiding us, counseling us and comforting us. But are we listening, or are we too busy talking? God will not scream at us to pay attention, so if we are too preoccupied with our own thoughts, His gentle voice will be drowned out.

Our prayer time must consist of listening as well as speaking. We need to attentively reach for that small voice and eagerly let it guide us. In quiet prayer, ask God to reveal his will and then listen patiently for His response. The more often you do this, the easier it will become.

However, if you fail to do this, you will miss out on the advice and direction God is offering. Worse still, your relationship will suffer, just as a marriage suffers when one partner simply refuses to listen.

This deterioration of our relationship with God is a steep downward slope. If you consistently fail to pay attention to what God is telling you, it will get progressively harder to make out his will against the background noise of your own desires. It may become so difficult that you will no longer believe that God even speaks at all.

Let me close with a powerful example from Erwin Raphael McManus. His son Aaron had run into trouble at camp and was preparing to leave. In a final effort to convince him to stay, Erwin had the following conversation.

I asked him a simple question: "Aaron, is there any voice inside you telling you what you should do?"

He paused and then responded, "Yes."

"What's the voice telling you?"

"That I should stay and work it out."

I asked him, "Can you identify that voice?"

He immediately said, "Yes, It's God."

It was the moment I had waited for. I didn't expect it to come under those circumstances. Nevertheless, it was there. I turned to Aaron and said, "Aaron, do you realize what just happened? You just heard the voice if the living God. He spoke to you from within your soul. Forget everything else that just happened. God has spoken to you, and you were able to recognize Him."

I'll never forget his response: "Well, I'm still not doing what He said."

I explained to him that was his choice, but this is what would happen. If he rejected the voice of God and chose to disobey His guidance, his heart would become hardened, and his ears would become dull. And if he continued on this path, there would be a day when he would never again hear the voice of God. There would come a day when he would deny that God even speaks or has ever spoken to him. But if he treasured God's voice and responded to Him with obedience, then his heart would be softened, and his ears would always be able to hear the whisper of God into his soul. (Erwin Raphael McManus, The Barbarian Way, pp. 87-88, Thomas Nelson, 2005)

Comments


wow!! this is exactly what i neede to read at this point in my life. thank you so much.
12/18/2007 8:39:41 PM - anonymous


AWESOME is our LORD
12/19/2007 5:14:14 AM - anonymous


It pays to listen to God. There are such great rewards everytime!
12/19/2007 8:37:59 AM - anonymous


Wow i have a testify .. i had a conversation with my mother yesterday that was simliar to this God is So Good and yes you can still hear his voice
12/19/2007 1:53:56 PM - anonymous


I agree, it's definitely something I need. I'm just going through such a tough time right now, and I need to listen God and focus not on trying to perfect in my studies, but in my ability to love God and others. To GOD be the glory for all things! Please continue pray for me as I pray for you. Merry Christmas!
12/19/2007 2:37:58 PM - anonymous


The only way to be happy isl istening God in the morning. His peace will be with you when you hear and obbey His voice
12/20/2007 1:31:23 PM - anonymous


In the ocean of business, family, work, etc., I haven't been getting my devotions done, and I know I have been missing a message God has been trying to lay on my heart through ensomnia. During these times He was wanting to speak to me in quietness, but instead I chose to long for sleep more, and I become angry and frustrated. This has been going on for 2 months. I have finally recognized ensomnia is not of the enemy, but of God, and if I choose to let it work for Him, and allow Him to speak to me, then He will give me rest, no matter how little it appears to be.
12/20/2007 1:54:44 PM - anonymous


I was just in prayer earlier today, and asking God to speak to me, and I recognized that I needed to quit talking so that I could hear from God. All of the comments are awesome, and encouraging. I have been distracted for a little while by the enemy, but Thanks be to God for getting me back on track today Dec 21, 2007, so that I may be able to hear from God on a regular basis. Please keep me in your prayers.
12/21/2007 10:09:31 PM - anonymous


Thank you for your inspiring words of wisdom. I will take them to heart.
12/22/2007 10:38:09 AM - anonymous


Thank you for writing this. So often I hear people say that God doesn't speak anymore and it is just such a hurtful thing to hear that people could believe that. But I think I see now how they got there. I will keep praying that the hard heart will be soften toward God.
12/26/2007 9:17:45 AM - anonymous


BLESS YOUR HOLY NAME...LORD GOD!!!
I LOVE YOU LORD, YOU ARE A MIGHTY GOD!!!
12/26/2007 11:37:06 PM - anonymous


I have heard God's soft voice for the last forty years. God is real and when we surrender out lives totally to
His will in total humility and obedience, then God will speak
in clear terms and the sound is audible only to that
particular person. It is like the President of a country
talks so privately to his most trusted advisor while
participating in a serious meeting with some other world
leaders.
12/28/2007 7:04:44 AM - anonymous


It's 6:27am and though I've not yet prayed,Abba has spoken though this devotion as well as through the comments. The LORD is so AWESOME!
12/28/2007 7:30:36 AM - anonymous


Thank you for your inspirational insight on hearing God's voice. It is true that we are too busy to hear the voice of God in our actual lives.
I would like to express my gratitude on your insightful commet on hearing God's voice.
12/29/2007 10:35:41 AM - anonymous


BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD so that we can hear God speaking to us in any what way HE choses to speak to us through. I heard GOD and obediently went out to do GOD'S will without expecting anything in return even though there was opposition for I know and believe that hearing and being obedient to GOD is much better than having to unwillingly forced to sacrifice.
Celia
12/29/2007 5:42:08 PM - anonymous


Thank God for your life and the His word to us. Just angry with my boss but as I read this devotion, the Lord has asked me to be quite and listen to His voice and all the anger is going right now. I thank Him so much. God's grace continue to abound towards you even for the coming years.
12/30/2007 5:49:34 AM - anonymous


Yes you can hear God speaking to you, but remember the voice of God will never tell you to go against His revealed Word.
12/31/2007 7:59:40 PM - anonymous


Thanks for that very important last comment. I agree completely - it's so important that if you think you hear a voice telling you something contrary to the Bible, STOP! It is not the voice of God! God will never contradict Himself, and never speak contrary to the Bible.
12/31/2007 8:02:11 PM - arsindelve, Executive Director, Delve Christian Ministries


I just recently went to a conference at liberty University. The preacher there was saying some of the same things. I have decided that I want to be more like christ. I found that easy at first but I know that as the day progresses it will get harder. This bible study will help me, I feel, to seek God even through the hard times of dispear and temptation that I will feel. If you will please pray that all those who were with me on this trip would also want to seek the one and holy God and that I can some how be a light to them if they ever need me. Thank you.
1/2/2008 8:36:07 AM - anonymous


I am 24 years old. Fairly new to the working world. I was working a new job in a new city and didn't believe in myself. I quit the job / ran away from my problems. I knew this was the wrong thing to do but I did it anyway. Now I have a lot more problems to deal with. It is very hard for me to hear God's voice now as I feel I did not listen to him when making this decision. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
1/2/2008 3:00:07 PM - anonymous


thank you and God bless you for the work that you are doing, this is the word i need today.
1/3/2008 10:02:34 AM - anonymous


All these testimonies just make me smile. God is so awesome and he will never lead you down the wrong path. You have to humble yourself and listen for his voice. I catch myself talking and praying, but I seek his face daily. I need to listen more for his voice, his words are faithful, always. Oh, how God is so good. PRAISE THE LORD...FOR HE IS WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE. Thank you Father. I love you Him so much, I invite God, The Son and the Holy Spirit into me daily and ask them to guide my footsteps in the order they want me to go. Thank you Lord, for your Mercy and Grace.
1/6/2008 2:34:35 AM - M.Fields, Member of Delve into Jesus since 1/6/2008


I know God has led me through my reading books and hearing other people speak(pastors, christian friends) but I still need to listen harder as I have not heard Him speakto me,though I have had prayers answered and been helped many times by my heavenly Father.
1/6/2008 8:26:38 PM - anonymous


Enter your comment here

THANKS. To God be the glory! my mind was freshened up that MY HEART should LISTEN as the LORD has to SPEAK with me... through HIS WORD, even through the PEOPLE AROUND ME that will HELP me to DECIDE the THINGS am gonna do for the GLORY of GOD. GOD BLESS US รถ
1/7/2008 8:45:24 PM - anonymous


this is DEFINITELY what i needed. in fact, i'm using it as a devotional in our Christian club on campus tomorrow. Erwin McManus? I think I heard him at the NextGen Imagine summit last month. He was pretty funny. His children are talented.

praise God.
Blessings,
Ashley.
1/8/2008 1:38:18 AM - acoustic soul, Member of Delve into Jesus since 1/8/2008


I shared this devotional at the Garden Club luncheon today and several of the women remarked how much they enjoyed it.
1/9/2008 7:17:37 PM - anonymous


I have truly done wrong on my life. But, GOD has brought me through all of it. I seek him more these days and continue to want to do the right thing. Please OH LORD LET ME HEAR. I DO LOVE YOU AND need you in my life. All praise to the LORD GOD!
1/13/2008 6:57:55 PM - anonymous


absolutely amazing! touched me heaps! thanks! how awesome our God is, praise and worship Him forever! I love you Lord Jesus! "Sweet annointed, wash me over!" rain down - planet shakers...
1/19/2008 7:49:33 PM - anonymous


I am glad that right now in the middle of the night 02:39am I am so lucky to stumble upon this message. PLEASE DEAR LORD HUMBLE ME AND LET ME HEAR YOU SPEAK TO ME.
1/21/2008 7:41:06 PM - anonymous


I want to hear God's gentle voice in my heart. I think that's so cool. It definitly shows a strong relationship between you and God when He speaks to you. I'm going to listen more to God, but I have one question. How do I listen? Do I just close my eyes and wait silently or what.
1/22/2008 3:15:03 PM - anonymous


It's very rarely a voice - it is usually a sense of peace, a sense of rightness, or the wisdom to know what do. At the risk of oversimplifying, all you need to do is spend quality, quiet time with God and try to sense His presence. It's easier for some than others, but the basics are the same - you will sense God's presence more and more as you grow in your relationship with Him, and you will grow in your relationship the more your pray and read the scriptures. Good luck, and God bless!
1/22/2008 3:21:38 PM - arsindelve, Executive Director, Delve Christian Ministries


Glory be to God the father almighty maker of heaven and earth, he is the alpha and the amego the beginning and the end No one is powerful like my God and I love him forever, and ever in Jusus name we pray. God bless you all, please pray for me Amen.
1/24/2008 10:33:13 AM - anonymous


wow, I am a Sunday School teacher, I teach young adults, I was researching ideas for next week and found this site.

My wow, is the fact that I have been teaching on listening to the voice of God, trusting and obeying.

It just falls right in to suit with this devotional.

Thanks
1/28/2008 1:33:22 PM - anonymous


I've been so busy with my busyness Lord forgive me. I don't understand what I'm doing please guide me and pray for me.
1/29/2008 10:10:39 AM - anonymous


I DO WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANKFULNESS TO YOUR WEBSITE-GREAT WISDOM TO ME! I Am going thru a time of great testing-my son is a recovering addict-he asked me for money-i asked god for special strength- i do not want to teach my son to be irresponsible-he has borrowed money from me-not payed it back-reluctantly he pays back under heavy asking. i asked the lord for guidance & satan tried to fool me about when anyone ask for your shirt-give them your coat hoe i leaned on my father GOD-HE SPOKE TO MY SOUL! PRAISE GOD FOR THE WISDOM OF NOT GIVING IN. CHRIS
1/29/2008 12:28:39 PM - anonymous


Thank you for this devotional and for the encouragement and wisdom provided.

Lili
1/30/2008 5:56:26 AM - anonymous


sometimes God speaks and, we don't want to hear it!
We try to not acknowledge or pretend like that couldn't be God so in the long run we suffer. I know from personal experience that i continued to ask God what should i do, what should i do?
He said i already told you and you just want listen!
I just encourage others to be prepared because some things God says we may not be ready to hear!
1/31/2008 6:35:45 PM - anonymous


Often times we concentrate on ourselfves rather then meditation towards the disclines of the BIBLE. We often tend to think that we can do all things on our own. However, when we put our relationship with God first and foremost we become dependant on the Lord. My relationship with God is the most important above all. My wife and I put God before each other. And I can tell you that our relationship with each other has grown so strong, that we can love and forgive without any regrets or ill feelings. Let God be in your life first. And you will have a peace about you that even you cannot explain..
2/1/2008 7:45:01 AM - anonymous


I will bless your name at all times Lord, this was really on point today.
2/1/2008 9:49:02 AM - anonymous


hi how are you in voice of God always responds in a unique voice and peace that surpasses understanding and again thanks for your lovely devotionals that are really helping me to grow in faith and truth towards God almighty the creator of everything.steve
2/3/2008 7:26:48 AM - anonymous