Hearing God

 

Hearing God 
 1 Kings 19:11-12

11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

We must run from the noise and drama in our lives. It is a never-ending cycle in this world to become entangled with the chaos. It’s the enemy’s plan to always keep us busy and involved in trying to appease others or be a part of something unfruitful, unproductive, or tempting us with anything that appeals to our senses to keep us chasing after something.

Every encounter that we engage in requires our time. This involves spending time with people to get to know them either in business or in a personal way. Many people are prone to being more social than others. However, where do we draw the line to protect our sanity and peace?

Yes, many of us already have daily responsibilities to keep up with and when we add, our work, social activities, business commitments, church, family time, friends, or are pursuing our dreams and purpose we are exhausted. Sometimes, we cannot see what we’re neglecting or should be doing because of tunnel vision. 

Every commitment creates a relationship with us that requires our time, input, efforts, energy, and obligations and sometimes more stuff that comes along with it. For some this way of living is normal and others are quite exhausted, and some are burnt out mentally, physically, and financially strained.

When this happens to us, we are now drawn into this web of deception believing that we’re gaining something for being a part of these kinds of commitments for whatever reason either to benefit us or to help someone else.

Again, the enemy studies us and knows what kind of things we like, and how vulnerable we are and what feeds our egos. He sends all kinds of people and uses things to keep us entangled. By the time we start to feel depleted or no longer want to pursue any of the things we signed up for we’re bound. Now we have to find a way to try peacefully to get out of these commitments and relationships. This requires even more time which is draining us mentally, and physically. However, some business and personal obligations don’t end mutually amicable.

The whole point is where is God in all of this? Many of us run to Him when we’re in trouble, stuck in a bad situation, in danger, hurting and stressed out from the cares of life. The Bible says, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him”. Luke 14:28-29

We can have dreams, a vision, and other goals in life, however, with God’s help we can achieve anything. But we must first seek Him for His help and blessings. Many of us are too busy doing the things we want with our time and are not patient enough to pray and ask God for His guidance. Instead, we just go with the flow in our affairs and believe people at their word thinking there’s no harm in anything until we get burned, a deal goes bad, or bump our heads.

The Lord is always speaking to us through His Word. Throughout the entire Bible there are stories of people who have gone down many of the roads we’re traveling, there is a plethora of wisdom in the Books of Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. This wisdom and knowledge is God speaking to us we just have to be patient enough to read, sit down and listen.

As time goes on and seasons pass, I’ve learned that the more Word that’s planted inside of us will spring forth into our thoughts during the night, midnight or during the day. We must be willing to listen, use discernment and catch it, because that’s the power of the Holy Spirit bringing it forth to comfort, teach, edify, or exhort a message to us. 

We must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He whispers to us. It could be the first thing we hear or see before we wake, in a song, conversation, an answered prayer, dream, vision, situation, or through a person.

The Lord is saying many things to those of us who are closed in our right minds and know our names. Yes, that’s all God watching over us throughout the night from day to day. We have the ability to praise Him, thank Him and be still and give Him some time before our feet hit the floor. He is Omnipresent don’t hold back the praise.

If you’ve never had an experience with hearing God, I caution you to take the time to read the Prophet Elijah’s story in the Book of 1st Kings. He ran for his life from King Ahab and Jezebel until he was all alone in a cave and that’s where God met Him. Remember how He spoke to the Prophet Elijah it was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire. Those were the signs that God revealed to demonstrate that He is Omnipotent, but He spoke in a still small voice. When God speaks, His power is released. You will know it because His word does not fall to the ground or fade into the air, it prospers in the thing for which He sent it. 

 

Hearing God

Yes, Lord I’m here listening

I fell and have no peace

My flesh didn’t obey

The pain is real, and it is deep

It is teaching me to think

I can’t say or do what I feel

As I pray to hear You speak

I’ll keep asking, seeking, and knocking

Until You answer my plea

ã2004 “Naima’s Inspirational Melodies”