You want to hear God speak to you, but can I ask you why?

Listen along here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1d577e45/you-want-to-he...

I think of the times I asked an audience,

“If I told you that God would be speaking today

at Noon at the train station downtown,

how many of you would be there?”  

Every hand in the room was in the air.  

But, why?

Maybe the question is elementary, Watson …

but if you think you want to hear God’s voice,

or you want to know that it was God who led you in a dream or a vision – or through a word from another Christ-follower or in some other way … the question is why?  Why do you want to know you have heard from God?  

Does it make a difference to you because if you heard God speak to you --

• it would prove that he does exist--it would validate your faith?
• it would make you feel important?
• it would shut up naysayers in your life?
• or is there another reason entirely?

Nothing necessarily wrong with those reasons, but I have been thinking about what might be the most important reason. Maybe this - I long to hear God's voice because I love him. And well, when I love someone, I want to be in communion with him, that is, two-way communication,

                          Give and take, back and forth . . . 

‘Yes, that’s it!’ you say.  ‘Those are the reasons I want to hear from God.’  

'How does God speak today?' I asked some folks; here is a sampling of responses:

-So many ways...his creation, reading the Bible, sermons, other people, occasionally a dream, you name it--all I know is He is infinitely patient and loves me!'

-'through prayer, my pastor, a phonecall from a friend at just the right time

-gentle nudges, my gut, through music

-when I pray in quiet places

-thru the Bible primarily . . . friends

-sometimes by bringing a person or situation to mind when I'm reading my Bible, and sometimes when I really need to hear from him, it almost sounds like I heard him speak!

God does indeed speak to us.

The psalmist wrote,

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders . . . 

The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic. . . 1

As for me, God speaks in and through Nature, through his creation daily. The repeated roar of a crashing ocean wave reminds me of God’s constant power. The swift current of a rushing river speaks of his urgent presence. The colorful red and blue birds in my backyard tell of his creative paintbrush and their birdsong? his whimsy. The various colors in the swath of a sunset shout of a wonderful Creator, God.So even when God is not communicating in speech, he is always making himself known. 

But, how do I hear God's voice? 

>>Most often, I sense God speaking to me when I am in a posture of prayer--that is, when I am actively seeking to connect with God - to talk to him and to listen to him as well. I know prayer is meant to be a two-way conversation. 

Do you want to hear God speak to you? Be intentional and resolute to meet with Him each morning, and then follow through by leaving the television off and your phone set aside. Be still. But do so in order to be with God.

Most mornings, in addition to other Bible reading, I look for expression for my prayers in the psalms. And then too God speaks to me from his Word about specific situations in my life when I am quiet... ready to listen and receive.

>>I hear God's voice from the pages of Scripture. He reveals his heart, his ways and his will if I will but read, take heed and believe him.

Fact is, those words of his are life giving. Just now I am thinking of, well visualizing Jesus as He looked from one to another of His disciples, saying,

Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.2

As he spoke to the disciples, so he speaks to me... of his peace.

He speaks to you... of his peace.

And so much more.

This song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgUmDtCozKw&list=RDtgUmDtCozKw&a...

He speaks. Listen.

Christine

PastorWoman.net

1 - Psalm 29

2 - John 14.27