Waiting and Delays…What a Drag!

We were wondering about '”knowing” the voice of Jesus, wondering if we were talking to ourselves…Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me, “ John 10:27. Identifying the voice of God  SHOULD BE the normal, natural part of  any committed believer’s life and walk. But, a new-born lamb would not necessarily know the Shepherd’s voice. A sheep that has been with the Shepherd for awhile SHOULD know His voice! That is part of maturity…recognizing that particular voice. As you pray and seek the Lord’s mind, (see 1 Cor 2:16), you will know you have heard from Him…hard to describe, but you KNOW…peace settles in as you sense the instructions coming to mind, you sense the “rightness” of what you are hearing, and sometimes wonder what took you so long to “get it.” Naturally, it is not an audible voice, but believe me, you know that you have heard from Him. Here are some guidelines to help you as you get to know Him better and are listening for His instruction…

1. What you hear will always be consistent with His Word…  God will NEVER tell you to do something or pursue a relationship or business arrangement that is not of Him, and the principles of His Word. Whatever you are hearing, ask yourself, “is this in line with the Word?” Please note here…if you have not built the Word into your life, and developed a close relationship with your Savior so that you are familiar with His character, you may be very confused about whether you are being guided by the Lord.

2. The Lord’s guidance will contradict the philosophy of the world. If we look at the life of Jesus, we find that His ministry often contradicted the way of the world. In my own life, that very thing has happened more than once, and He always clearly showed me the correct way, His way. He taught His followers to forgive while the world teaches us to get even. He admonished them to go the extra mile, even with an enemy. But the world tells us to take all we can and worry about no one but ourselves. God exhorts us to live our lives according to His value system and not the world’s, which is anti-god and anti-faith.

3. What God teaches you will clash with your fleshly desires. God never requires us to do something that is inconsistent with the Scripture, we know that….Satan is the one who entices us to gratify the flesh. We serve a God who enjoys us and intends for us to enjoy life to the full…(John 10:10). His prescription for lasting fulfillment is this: “Seek first the kingdom of God and ALL these things will be given to you.” Instantaneous gratification is nothing more than the flesh seeking to have it own way, it’s desires met. Jesus, instead teaches us to gratify the Spirit and not the flesh…then we will know peace.

4. God speaks word of courage and encouragement to us.  God’s word to Joshua was, “be strong and courageous, do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,” Jos 1:9. God is omniscient, He is sovereign over all things, and He will never leave us. He provides the courage and strength we need from day to day. However, we need to listen as Joshua did, for his encouragement. If we spend our days running and rushing around, we will miss what God’s  Spirit wants to say to us. We need to learn to be still before God! This is what King David did whenever he faced a challenge. He listened for God’s Word to him. The Lord encourages those who seek His way for their lives.

5. God’s Word causes us to consider the consequences of our sin and it’s effect on others.  Our actions affect others. Therefore, we have a responsibility to do what is right before God and those we love. We may think our private sin does not hurt anyone but us, but in reality it hurts the entire body of Christ.

6. What we hear contributes to our spiritual growth.   We learn by reading and studying God’s Word. The Apostle Paul writes, “faith comes from hearing and hearing comes by the Word of Christ,” Romans 10:17.

7. God’s voice builds faith and brings a calmness to our lives.  As you learn to hear and discern the voice of God, a distinct calmness fills your heart. Paul called it, “the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, “ Phil 4:7. I can testify from personal experience, this is so. Peace and contentment are a precious gift of God, He loves to give it to those who listen to Him.

God speaks to us so that we may understand truth. He speaks primarily through His Word, through the Holy Spirit to our consciences, through circumstances, and through other, godly people. By applying what you hear to the truth of Scripture, you can learn to recognize His voice! God bless you as you “listen” for His voice!