Hebrews 3:6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.

Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 6:11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end.

Father God we come before you and thank you for the wonderful salvation that is ours through Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit help us to hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. Help us to us hold fast our confession and draw near with confidence to the throne of grace to find mercy and help in our time of need and may we realize the full assurance of hope we have until the end.
In the name of Jesus we pray.

In the love of Jesus
Bob

DEAREST PASTOR CHARAN
I AM OFTEN THINKING AND PRAYING FOR YOU AND REQUEST PRAYERS FOR CHRISTIANS IN INDIA. MAY GOD HOLD HIS HAND OF LOVE AND PROTECTION OVER ALL OF YOU. OUR CHURCHES ARE PRAYING FOR YOU AND SO MANY OF MY FRIENDS AND RELATIVES.

BE BLESSED AND I FEEL SO HELPLESS IN NOT KNOWING WHAT TO DO OTHER THAN TO PRAY - BUT WE HAVE AN ALMIGHTY AND POWERFUL GOD AND FATHER.

BE BLESSED AND MAY YOUR SABBATH BE SO SPECIAL!
RAMONA P.

I AM A FIRM BELIEVER THAT GOD WILL SPEAK TO US THROUGH EVEN NATURE,

Listening To God
Posted by arsindelve, Executive Director, Delve Christian Ministries Devotional Options
Print This Devotional
Email This Devotional
Download as PDF

Devotional Rating
4.9 out of 5.0 in 10 votes
Let us know what you thought of this devotional.
(please log in to vote)
Subscribe To Devotionals
1. RSS Feed:

2. By Email - Log in now to view or change your subscription status.




"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)

DEAR YOEL,
MAY WE ALL BE BLESSED WITH THE ABILITY TO HEAR AND LISTEN TO HIS EVERY WORD.
YOUR SISTER IN CHRIST TRISH

Dearest Pastor Charan
Please be assured of my prayers for you and our church is also very involved in prayers for your country and for Christians who are being persecuted.

Take heart in knowing that Jesus is our Saviour and our Redeemer. I need not even remind you of this.

Fond love in Jesus
Ramona

DEAREST PASTOR CHARAN
BE ASSURED OF OUR PRAYERS AND THANK YOU FOR YOURS - AND I SEND MY FOND LOVE AND PRAYERS TO YOU AND YOUR CONGREGATION FROM OURS... I HAVE OUR CONGREGATION PRAYING FOR YOU ALL.

BLESSINGS IN JESUS' NAME
RAMONA P.

Praise to the Lord for His provission! God takes care us and meets our needs. I am glad that soon this burden will be released from you. I pray also for the continued blessing and God's protection as you minister the Word of Life.
In the love of jesus.
Bob

BRIAN DOERKSEN - YOU ARE EVERYTHING
My soul is yearning for Your living stream
My heart is aching for You
All that I long for is found in Your heart
You are everything I need

You are the thirst
You are the stream
You are the hunger living deep inside of me
You are the food that satisfies
You are provision for the journey of our lives
You are everything You are

Hi Dear Brother Yoel Charan
Thank you for the nice pic on my page. You are right brother, nothing can separate us from Jesus. Jesus is our Head and we are all the body of Jesus Christ. We are united to Him alone. Praise the Lord. Thank you for the reminder that fill my heart with happiness. For I need Jesus more and more. Just stay blessed in Jesus' way and God bless you always.

With love in Christ: Christy Gabriel B

DEAREST PASTOR
NOT A DAY PASSES WITHOUT ME THINKING OF YOU AND YOUR PRECIOUS CHURCH AND PEOPLE WHO ARE PERSECUTED FOR CHRIST... OUR CHURCH AND MANY CHURCHES IN SA ARE PRAYING FOR YOU AND WE TAKE HANDS IN ASKING THE LORD TO KEEP YOU IN HIS SAFETY AND SHELTER...

WE SEND FOND LOVE FROM OUR CONGREGATION TO YOU AND YOURS.

BE BLESSED AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOVED
RAMONA P.

Hello Yoel. The Alerts feature is something new provided by Ning. It is a place to check special announcements from time to time. It says, "Alerts are messages sent to you by applications you or your friends have added." Hope this explanation helps.

My dearest Pastor friend
Tomorrow is Sabbath for us and I am thinking of you - preparing myself for worshipping tomorrow... You will be in our prayers tonight and tomorrow at church and your fellow country Christians... We pray for all persecuted Christ followers and know that you are all loved and blessed.

Fond love in Jesus Christ

<:))))>
Your Friend
Ramona P.

Christian Graphic Comments
hello pastor!
how r u?

My dearest Pastor and friend
May you be blessed and know also that we are constantly praying for you and your church, the persecuted people... and your family.

Know that you are loved in our congregation and we are also sending out prayer lists to everyone - our congregation and our families.

We have a healing service on Wednesday evenings and one lady who is not a member of our congregation has a nephen in Australia who was riddled with cancer. We prayed for him for a few weeks and on Sunday Aunty was in church and she came to testify that HER NEPHEW IS HEALED!!!

Praise God Almighty

<:))))>
Your Friend
Ramona P.

PRAISE THE LORD.
KEEP ON SENDING GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST SO THAT WE LEARN MORE AND MORE ABOUT CHRIST
THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS U&ur fly.

Dear Pastor Yoel,

May the LORD hear your every cry and every prayer for your ministry and for the Christians in your country and for those being called to experience the love and mercy of the Father in His Son, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Don't despair you are not forsaken.

Love,

Brother John

God bless you pastor! Thankyou for the comment of encouragement. I want to be that baby in the Lord's arms, held close to His heart!

Dear Pastor,
Thank God for what he's doing in India thro' you may his great love manifest in your ministry and family life.
I will always pray for you.

Bro Joel

Hi dear brother Yoel Charan
How are you? Just know you are always in my prayers. God bless you always.

With love in Christ: Christy Gabriel B

Blessings brother;
What a joy it is to serve GOd.

May HIs grace be yours daily as you serve HIm,
In His grace;
Alex

I hope to remember your page during Christmas time! I like Jim Reeves and the songs you've chosen. Thanks, Darlene

When to Run
by Pastor Greg Laurie

"Run from anything that stimulates youthful lust. Follow anything
that makes you want to do right. . . ." (2 Timothy 2:22)

Some years ago, there was a story in the news about a man who had a
tree fall on his leg. With no one around to come to his rescue, he
took out a pocketknife and proceeded to amputate his leg. Then he
made his way up the road until someone picked him up and raced him
to help. Amazingly, this man who had a severed leg still had
enough presence of mind to tell the driver of the vehicle not to go
too fast. He said, "I didn't come this far to die on the road.
Take it easy."

I remember reading that story and thinking, "He did what? How
could this guy cut off his leg? I would have laid under the tree
and just waited for help." But the doctors who treated him later
said that if he wouldn't have taken such a drastic measure, he
would have died. He did it to save his life.

Sometimes we must take radical, drastic steps to remove ourselves
from whatever it is that is hurting us spiritually. That may mean
immediate change. It may mean physically getting up and saying,
"I'm out of here."

You might be at that party. Watching that movie. In that
relationship. In that car. Wherever it is, you realize you
shouldn't be there. God is convicting you. He is saying, "What
are you doing here?" Don't be foolish. Just get up and go. That's
not always possible, but many times it is.

Is there a relationship or a situation in which you don't belong?
Has God been speaking to you about it? You'll be glad you took the
time to listen.

Thank you Yoel. U are truly a blessing to me. Sending 5 million blessings to you and yours. U are in my prayers always and forever.
In His Love,
Patti

Yoel,

Sorry to hear about your computer problems. You can download a new copy of Adobe Flash here: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

First, however, you may want to go to your CONTROL PANEL > ADD/REMOVE PROGRAMS and delete it from your computer, reboot and then reinstall Abode Flash to make sure it registers properly with you machine.

I'm sorry, I can't give you more help than that. Take Care!

Thank you....

Hi Brother Joel,
Looking through my mail I came across a letter of thanks to you as you shared my grief.
I would like to Thank you again for the hand you stretched out to me at that time.
Your Brother and friend in Christ -Ron

12:13am on July 16, 2008, Ron Payne said… My Dear friend and brother,
Thank you for your kind words and sharing my grief.
I am still not quite ready to come back, I find myself staring at the keyboard with nothing to say. I am sure this will pass as the Lord continues to comfort me.
The Lord Bless you and your family.
Ron

Hi dear brother Yoel Charan
It is a blessing to have you on my page. Thank you so very much and pray all is well with you there. You are always welcome and God bless you abundantly always.

With love in Christ: Christy Gabriel B

MY DEAR PASTOR
PLEASE KNOW THAT YOU ARE BEING PRAYED FOR CONSTANTLY - YOU AND JESUS CHRIST'S PERSECUTED CHURCH.

OUR PASTOR AND CONGREGATION AND MY FAMILY AND I SEND YOU BLESSINGS AND OUR HEARTFELT SYMPATHY FOR THE INJUSTICES THAT YOU ARE SUFFERING.

KNOW THAT WE CONSTANTLY UPHOLD YOU IN OUR PRAYERS...


FONDEST LOVE IN JESUS OUR SAVIOUR


<:))))>
Your friend
Ramona P.

Brother please know that your brothers and sisters are praying forou and India. May God uproot and remove all those who plot evil and my God put a hedge of protection around all His children in India.
In the love of Jesus
Bob

FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE PRAYING CONSTANTLY... AND AFTER THIS HORRIFIC SHOCK IN MOMBAY - WELL WE ARE SPEECHLESS BUT NEVERTHELESS CONSTANTLY SPEAKING AND PLEADING WITH GOD ALMIGHTY.

I LEAVE A COMMENT WITH YOU WHICH I COMPILED FOR MY FRIENDS
AND I ASK GOD TO BRING PEACE IN YOUR HEART ... AND BLESS YOU AND YOU LOVED ONES AND THE WHOLE OF INDIA...


Do you realize that ucountable numbers of people are anxious to
Please the Crowd instead of God?

We all know that there are people who are "born dictators" and others are "attention seekers"...

When in a position of authority they do not consider anyone's feelings... Some Governments strive to please the people despite the millions who are hurt in the process... Others cause pain and suffering because of obstinacy and a self-centred attitude, and then you realise that this is because they do not know God.
Pontius Pilate wanted to please the people. So he freed Barabbas
for them. And Pilate told the soldiers to beat Jesus with
whips. Then Pilate gave Jesus to the soldiers to be killed on
a cross. Pilate knew that Jesus was innocent and yet he ignored this fact because he was trying to please the people!

-- Mark 15:15 (ERV)

Pilate knows Jesus is innocent, yet gives in totally to the wishes of
the mob -- he first has Jesus scourged ("flogged with a lead-tipped
whip") and then turns Jesus over to be crucified. Why does he do it?
Pilate has to keep Rome happy by maintaining order. To maintain order,
Pilate has to appease the crowd. Even though he has already pronounced
Jesus "not guilty" of any crime, Pilate has the final say. In his mind,
his word is law. In the eyes of the crowd, Pilate's word is law. Jesus,
however, knows that Pilate has no power to act, rule, or enforce his
verdict apart from God's granting him that power. Pilate is a puppet
who cannot recognize that he acts in concert with the crowd's will,
Rome's desire, and God's plan. Jesus is allowed to be crucified -- both
by Pilate, to appease the crowd which is being manipulated by the
religious leaders, and also by God, who is using this horrifying event
to save the world. If God can bring such a great redemption out of such
an unfair injustice, imagine what he can do with our suffering for his
sake.
Can any one of us imagine what it must take to sacrifice your child! I cannot!

TODAY'S PRAYER:
O God, you are the Almighty, the one in control even when I cannot see
Your control. Help me to understand that you will redeem every
injustice brought upon your people at your chosen time. Give me the
faith and strength to endure such times and the courage to live my life
in the hope that even if the scales of justice are not balanced in my
lifetime, they will be at the end of time. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

<:))))>
Your friend
Ramona P.

Dear Brother Yoel Charan
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. GOD BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY ALWAYS.

With love in Christ: Christy Gabriel B

Hi Yoel,
With my Christian Drivers Licence, would you care to take a seat in my Chariot as we race to heaven on Rapture day?

Look up and Rejoice brother.
Ron

It is good to hear from you Pastor Yoel, I pray that in this new year God might give to you a new vision for the work that he has called for you to do. Dear brother I also pray that God will bring to you a personal renewal, a time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.
I pray that God will bless you and your family in a special way financially. I also pray that God will give you the desires of your heart.
I also pray for your ministry that God the Holy Spirit would give you special grace and that he would release His anointing and power through your life. In Jesus name I pray amen.

Hi brother Yoel Charan
Than you so much for the lovely pic on my page. It is so nice to see you on my page and pray you and your family is happy in this new year. You are always welcome and God bless you abundantly always.

With love in Christ: Christy Gabriel B

Hi Pastor, Emmanuel & Family,
Greetings, thanks for your encouraging visit here in Bhopal. I was blessed. May our father bless you in everything that you do for the extension of His kingdom. I have come on this site especially to thank you. Loves & blessing. Sam Francis.

Dear respected Ps Yoel Charan, Jay Messiah!
Greetings from Mt. Everest Nepal

Thank you for your choosen as a friend to me. Let me thanks to God He who arranged me such a great anointed respected Pastor as a good friend to me.
I hope and pray that we may work together for this end time harvesting.
'May God lead you himalayan Nepal too!'

Agape
Pastor Rajendra, Kathmandu
Mobile No. +9779841942729

Dear brother Yoel Charan

With love in Christ: Christy Gabriel B

Dear respected Ps Yoel, Thanks for your response Yes, I am also quite new to use. I think you just come to type at below one open typing space or can click to the private one also. Will you try now pls!

Dear Ps Yoel, I am at your praivate chat room, Will you again try by the way if you are in free pls!

Yes brother, Just type the words and hit/enter then automatically it appear at message board pls. Will you try now!