Are You Listening? »
By bwagner on Dec 7, 2009 in Newsletter | 0 Comments
“The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice.” ~John 10:3-4
Over the years, there have been times when I honestly believe I heard to voice of the Lord telling me to do or not to do something. For some, this may seem difficult to believe that the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords would speak to an individual. However, I believe that it’s scriptural and that God desires to speak to each one of His children.
Maybe you’ve never experienced this type of relationship with God. Or maybe you’ve had a close relationship with God in the past but have drifted away because of hurts, doubts, or disappointments.
God wants to be your closest, most trusted Friend. He wants you to talk to Him; and yes, He wants to talk to you, as well. How? It’s simple:
First, return to Him. Isaiah 30:15, 19 says, “Your salvation requires you to turn back to me and stop your silly efforts to save yourselves. Your strength will come from settling down in complete dependence on me….Cry for help and you’ll find it’s grace and more grace. The moment He hears, He’ll answer.”
Second, let go of distractions. I find this the most difficult in my own life. I often say “yes” to too many things, then find myself frustrated with life.
Take an honest look at your life….
Let go of what is not God’s will for you. Don’t settle for what’s “good” when you can have God’s best!
Third, spend time with Him. As John 10:3-4 says, the sheep follow the shepherd because they know his voice. We can only become familiar with the voice of God when we spend time listening.
Many times, we come to God with our list of wants and desires. But when we come to Him with “listening ears”, He will share HIS wants and desires for our lives.
When we submit to His will and obey, His anointing and blessings will flow in our lives.
We must “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matt. 5:6). It’s time for God’s people to seek Him and desire Him above all things. It’s time for each one of us to walk in honesty and integrity. And, yes, it’s time for us to put aside our selfishness and move into what He has for our lives.
