Originally published Tuesday, 04 August 2015.
You say you don’t hear God, have you looked for Him? He is closer than you think!
“I need direction.” What is God’s will?” “How do I hear God’s voice?” “What does God’s voice sound like?”
We’ve all prayed these kind of prayers haven’t we? Some of you are still wondering about the answers. I wanted to hear God’s voice at an early time in my faith and thought I was, but then God showed me a better way.
After I started putting into practice what I heard from God, I had a deeper desire to boost my quiet time with Him. His voice came simply tucked in the middle of the back seat of a girls-away-from-home weekend of fun. God checked my gut with this question: “When are you going to stop only reading my Word, and start doing what it says?”
That was the day that I stopped reading the Bible.
I stopped reading, started studying truth, and read it the most personal way. Now I take God’s word to heart and let it change me everyday. Seeing life from God’s lens changes everything.
James 1:22 -25 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.”
When I dwell in God’s Word, I am doing more than just reading it, I’m applying it to my life. When I learn His voice this way, I can see Him in so many different ways. I grow and learn every day. I am inspired by His love letter to me, I am inspired by the profound thoughts of the Holy Spirit who guided the pens of many faithful writers.
I am changed when I come away from and encounter God. I remember that I am called to love and serve Him and to be His light. I have freedom in the truth as God’s redeemed daughter. I am reminded of His love, faithfulness, greatness and daily reminded of my need of His goodness.
I stopped reading the Bible one day, and started living in it the next. I come away changed every time.
Why is it so important to hear and know God’s words to us?
Because we need His direction.
Because life is hard on our own.
Because with every problem, it’s God’s opportunity to give His promise and provision to it.
Because life is hard. Did you know that you can take your Bible with you all the time?
To know God’s direction in life, to know His will for your life, to hear God’s voice clearly you have to know Him by entering a personal one on one relationship with Him, after all He knows you best. Did you know that God yearns to hear your voice? That He longs for you to hear Him and wants to have a intimate relationship with you?
You say, “I’ve messed up my life too much!” or “I’m so afraid to talk to Him!” Don’t let fear, intimidation, guilt or shame dictate your feelings towards God. To know His voice, you have to learn what it sounds like. To listen to His voice and have direction and purpose for your life, you must quiet yourself before Him. To boost your faith you have to know where you are putting your trust. To improve your quality of life, it will cost you something.
Perhaps you just need to make more time to seek God.
To seek God’s direction and to get the help you need you have to give Him space to work in your life. After years of following God’s loving hand for my life, my quality of life has enriched in ways I never would’ve thought possible.
I needed this direction more than words could say. That is reason enough to stay. How do you hear God’s voice?
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