Listening To God

Are You Listening To God?

Are you listening to God? I know, I know.....it can be really confusing! Let me tell you a little secret, there was a time when I certainly wasn't listening. Honestly, there was a time in my life where contact between God and myself was non-existent; and yes, I was already a Christian. It wasn't that God was not talking to me, it was because I could not hear Him. Being completely honest, sometimes I experience pockets of times where I don't hear God talking to me now. These are the times when I have to stop, assess myself, correct what I'm doing, ask for forgiveness, and move forward.

Let me explain, after I became a Christian, I just sat there thinking that I had done my part and it was up to God to do the rest. Talk about one way relationships! I was so wrong. Here is the deal, I could not hear God talking to me, because I did not know his voice! As a matter of fact, I didn't know anything about Him.

Think about it like this, when a baby is first born, it doesn't know it's parents voices. The baby is taken home and left alone with it's parents. They spend time together; the parents are teaching the baby, taking care of the baby, nurturing the baby. There is a lot of interaction between the parents and the baby. Instinctively the baby starts to know it's parents voices, as well as what they look like. Sometimes, the baby will cry for it's parents when someone it doesn't know is holding it. The bottom line is that the baby comes to know it's parents without any kind of way of being told who they are.

Here is a question for you? If there is a baby born, and for 100 days, 100 different people take care of the baby, do you think it would know whom it's parents were?

My truth - That is exactly where I was! Although I was "BORN AGAIN" I still allowed so many things to raise me! John 8:43

John 8:43 - Why do you misunderstand what I am saying? It is because [your spiritual ears are deaf and] you are unable to hear [the truth of] My word. (AMP)

I couldn't hear God through all the noise that I still allowed in, as well, I had not started to know who He was. I could feel something deep down inside that was pulling me, but I had no idea what that feeling was; so I didn't respond to it or act on it.

Eventually, things in my life took a turn for the worse. It's funny, we always want to call on God, seek God, when things go crazy. My life was literally throwing me a two punch. In true form and fashion, what did I do? You guessed it, called on God!!!! Like a lot of us, when I was in the thick of it, I flew to my Bible. I started rambling through the pages trying to find some sort of answer to my questions. 😂😂😂!!! I needed help, and I needed it right then and there. Oh man, I can laugh about it now, but at the time, I thought it was the worse feeling I had ever experienced. Of course, every page I went to was not the right page, so I thought. (I will explain this part later) I remember thinking, this is sort of what I'm needing an answer for; but not exactly, so I kept looking. You guys, I mean l was literally flipping through my Bible like a "mad women". Eventually I got frustrated and stopped. I sat there crying, and for the first time since my conversion, I actually started a conversation with God. Yes, I was upset! Yes I blamed everything on God. Through my tears I said to Him, "I thought you were supposed to be here for me!" I had heard the phrase from time to time as I was growing up - God will never leave you, nor forsake you. I most certainly thought He had.

Deuteronomy 31:8 - The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

As I sat there in tears, I felt a gentle nudge to read over a few of the scriptures I had come across, and I did just that. I of course, had to find them again, because I didn't think to write them down. As I calmly tried to think about how I had found the scriptures previously, I stumbled across different ones altogether, as well as some of the previous ones. I read through them QUICKLY! When I was done I thought to myself, I am no where closer to getting an answer to what is going on in my life. I closed my Bible and went on with my day.

The one thing I did notice is that I had calmed down. I was still full and felt like I was about to burst, but I wasn't in "mad woman" mode anymore. Over the next couple of days I found myself thinking about (meditating on) the few scriptures I had read. I felt like they would be able to help in some parts of my life. Maybe not exactly for what I wanted, but I could see how they could help in other areas, and I wanted to get a better understanding about those scriptures.

Before long, I found myself reading my Bible, searching for answers to other questions I had. The more and more I read, the more questions I had, the more I wanted to know! I was amazed at how relevant the Bible is to today's time. There is certainly nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Ecclesiastes 1:9 - That which has been is that which will be [again], And that which has been done is that which will be done again. So there is nothing new under the sun.

(Here you can find Scripture, as well as Bible Commentary on) Ecclesiastes 1 A lot of the things that has happened in the Bible, are actually happening in the world today. I found it absolutely amazing and concerning all at the same time.

The more I read, the more I found out about God, the more I started talking to Him, the closer I started to feel. Eventually, without me noticing I had started to hear from God. He had actually helped me to form a routine. When I had a problem I would talk to Him (which is prayer), and He would answer. I had actually formed a relationship without even realizing it. I had come to depend on God, to know that He would be there no matter what. My understanding of scriptures was increasing, and I was able to find out the truth about who God Is, His promises to me, and how He helps me, etc.

Let me explain how I had started to hear from God. Because I was actively reading my Bible, whenever things would come up in my life, or I had questions, I would talk to Him (prayer). Sometimes out loud, sometimes in my head. He would bring back to my memory something that I had read in my Bible; a scripture, a story, or sometimes just a simple word, or a phrase. (This is done through the Holy Spirit)

Let me say that what God tells me does not always apply to exactly what I want at that moment, but if I pay attention and think about it, I could always find a place in my life where what was given is relevant.

(Here you can find the lesson on Listening To God on our Landing Page, create a free account or log in, and select the lesson that corresponds with this post. While you are there, feel free to join our study group. Here is the Student Notes Worksheet, and the Course Transcripts.)

So basically in a Nutshell God Revealed himself to me, through the Bible. This is called Specific Revelation. Let me give you a quick overview of this lesson. First what is Biblical revelation?

Biblical Revelation - God making himself known to us, God speaking so that we can listen to him.

Biblical Revelation comes in a couple of ways.

1. General Revelation - Information about God available to all people, all the time. God speaking to all people, and all people being able to hear what He has to say.

Romans 1:19-20 - because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:

Paul is saying that in creation God is clearly speaking. We can look at the amazing things of this world and say wow, God is amazing! An amazing God created this!

Psalm 19:1-4 - The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language; Their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, And their words to the end of the world.

2. Specific Revelation - information about God only available to some people, some of the time. This is a technical name for what we call the Bible. Through the Bible, God speaks to us through specific Revelation.

Psalms 19:7-11 - The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. 10 They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. 11 By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Always Remember a healthy relationship requires healthy communication. Set aside time to get to know God, to communicate with Him. Read your Bible to learn who God is and what that means for your life. Start a routine! Here are 4 tangible things that you can do to grown your relationship with God!

1. Read your Bible - Get a relationship with God, Ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand what you are reading.

1 Cor 2:12-13 - 12 What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.

2. Meditate on the Bible - think about what you read, talk to God about it. Fill your mind with what you have been reading in scripture. Ask God to help you understand it, and how to apply it to your life. If you do this, scripture promises that you will be blessed.

Psalm 1:1-3 - Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

3. Memorize the Bible - When we face issues or temptations we will know how to respond. Jesus faced temptation and he responded always by quoting scripture. When we fight temptation, knowing the proper scripture helps us in our time of need.

Psalm 119:11 - I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

4. Obey the Word of God - sometimes we feel as if all we have to do is know the Word of God. When you know scripture and you don't obey it, there is a Biblical name for that: it's called being a fool.

Matthew 7:24-27 - 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

As you read the bible, learn it, and obey it, we begin to trust it. The ultimate goal of all of this is to be transformed, changed.

2 Corinthians 3:18 - And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

So I ask you again, Are you listening to God? Can you hear Him talking to you? If not open your heart, ears, and Bible!!