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How to Hear from God

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Chapter One

The world makes it easy for us to fill our ears with all kinds ofthings that drown out the voice of God and push Him far, far intothe background of our lives. However, the day comes for every personwhen only God remains. Everything else in life eventually passesaway; when it does, God will still be there.

The Word of God teaches that what is known about God is evident toall because He has made Himself known in the inner consciousness ofmankind (see Romans 1:19-21). Each person will someday stand beforeHim and give an account of his or her life (see Romans 14:12). Whenpeople don't want to serve God with their lives, when they want togo their own way, they find ways to hide from and ignore thisinstinctive inner knowledge of their Creator who wants to talk tothem and guide them in the way they should go.

Nothing can satisfy our longing for God, except communion andfellowship with Him. Isaiah expressed well our own hunger for Godwhen he wrote, "My soul yearns for You [O Lord] in the night, yes,my spirit within me seeks You earnestly" (Isaiah 26:9). The apostleJohn wrote, "And the world passes away and disappears, and with itthe forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; buthe who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his lifeabides (remains) forever" (1 John 2:17).

Hearing from God is vital to enjoying God's eternal plan for ourlives. Listening to God is our decision; no one else can make it forus. God won't force us to choose His will, but He will do everythingHe can to encourage us to say yes to His ways.

God wants to be involved in even the smallest details of our lives.His Word tells us to acknowledge Him in all our ways, and He willdirect our paths (see Proverbs 3:6). To acknowledge God is to carewhat He thinks and to ask for His opinion. Verse 7 of Proverbs 3says, "Be not wise in your own eyes." In other words, don't eventhink that you can run your life and do a good job without God'shelp and direction. It takes most of us far too long to learn thisimportant lesson.

Even though I sincerely loved Jesus, I went to church for yearswithout knowing that God talks to people. I observed all thereligious rules and holidays and went to church every Sunday. I wasreally doing all that I knew to do at that time, but it wasn'tenough to satisfy my longing for God.

I could have spent every moment in church or in Bible study, but itwouldn't have quenched the thirst I had for a deeper fellowship withthe Lord. I needed to talk to Him about my past and hear Him talk tome about my future. But nobody taught me that God wanted to talkdirectly to me. No one offered a solution for the dissatisfiedfeelings I endured.

Through reading the Word, I learned that God does want to talk to usand that He has a plan for our lives that will lead us to a place ofpeace and contentment. It is God's will for us to attain knowledgeof His plan through His divine guidance. It sounds like a prettyfoundational point, but I believe there are many people who stillquestion whether God really talks to people. And if He does, theywonder:

? Is God really involved on a day-to-day basis in running our lives?

? Does He really want to be involved in all the little tiny detailsof our lives?

? Should we only bother God and expect to hear from Him concerningmajor issues that we can't handle ourselves?

The Bible teaches that God has a good plan for all those who willput their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives. His plan iscomplete in great detail, and it will lead all who follow Him to anabundant life.

But I am convinced that only a few ever enjoy the fulfillment ofGod's perfect plan for their lives because most people don't knowhow to listen to God's leading and follow Him. Instead, they choose(either willfully or ignorantly) to go their own way. More peoplecould walk in the perfect will of God if they would learn how tohear from Him and follow His instructions.

Never hesitate to take what you think are small things to God; afterall, everything is small to God. Sometimes we act as if we think wewill tax God's ability if we ask Him for too much help. I remember awoman who came to me for prayer. She wanted to know if it would beall right if she asked God for two things; if not, she assured methat she would only ask for one.

It is vital to know what God's Word says about His role in yourlife, because it confirms His divine plan to be intimately involvedwith all that concerns you. "`For I know the plans I have for you,'"declares the LORD, "`plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plansto give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and comeand pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and findme when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,'declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV).

EXPECT HIM TO SPEAK TO YOU

Jesus told His disciples, "I have still many things to say to you,but you are not able to bear them or to take them upon you or tograsp them now. But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-givingSpirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, fullTruth)" (John 16:12-13). He also said that the Holy Spirit wouldcontinue to teach us all things and bring to our remembrance allthat God has said through His Word (see John 14:26).

When Jesus spoke these words, He was talking to men with whom He hadspent the previous three years. They had been with Him day andnight, yet He indicated that He had more to teach them. We wouldthink that if Jesus was with us personally for three years, day andnight, we would have learned all there is to know. I think that if Ihad one uninterrupted month with people, I could tell themeverything I know. But Jesus said to expect more because He willalways have something to say to us about new situations we arefacing.

Jesus always knew what was the right thing to do because He only didwhat He saw His Father do. As our Lord, we can trust Him to lead usto the right path every day. He is the only begotten Son of God, butwe are also adopted sons and daughters of God, and we are to imitateHim in all we do. He became flesh and experienced all of the thingswe experience, so He understands our needs. He was baptized in theHoly Ghost, just as we are to be baptized in the Holy Ghost (seeJohn 1:32-33). And He was led by the Spirit, just as we can be ledby the Spirit, because He ascended to heaven and sent the HolySpirit to lead and guide us.

In John 16:13 Jesus continued to explain the work of the Holy Spiritin our lives, saying, "For He will not speak His own message [on Hisown authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father;He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He willannounce and declare to you the things that are to come [that willhappen in the future]."

The book of John offers an extensive study of God's promise tointimately guide us. In chapter 6, Jesus said, "It is written in[the book of] the Prophets, And they shall all be taught of God[have Him in person for their Teacher]. Everyone who has listened toand learned from the Father comes to Me" (v. 45).

God knew we would need help in understanding His plan for us, so Hesent the Holy Spirit to dwell on the inside of every Christian. Heis our Guide, our Teacher of truth, our Counselor, and our Helper.He is also our Comforter, or the parakletos (par-ak'-lay-tos), whichis explained in Vine's...