When God Speaks: How to Recognize God’s Voice and Respond in Obedience
I think the thing that struck me the most about today’s study was how many times I’ve overlooked God speaking to me. It’s pretty amazing actually. He still speaks and better yet, He speaks to me! That’s awesome.
Blackaby emphasized two things that he does to make certain that God speaks and he hears. First, he makes himself accessible. You don’t have to wait until your daily quiet time, although that is certainly a good place. I mean, if Jesus needed to get up early in the morning and find a quiet place to talk to the Father, surely I need find a quiet place.
But more than that, you need to put yourself into positions to hear. Church is a great place to hear God speak, whether it is through the pastor’s message, the Sunday School lesson, the music or the discussion, it’s just a good place. Reading books about faith and things spiritual also is a way. Concerts, the park, long walks, all are times that God can speak to you but you must be aware and waiting.
His second point was that he cultivates his relationship with Christ. God called Abraham his friend (Isaiah 41:8), spoke to Moses as a friend (Exodus 33:11) and Jesus referred to His disciples as friends (John 15:15). If you don’t spend time with someone, how can they be your friend? If you ignore them, disparage them or disregard them when they speak to you, how can they be your friend?
It works the same with Christ. We need to work on the relationship, not expect it to appear magically, as if out of thin air. The old God in the box concept, I’ll keep you here in this container until I’m in trouble, the you can hop out to save the day and give me what I want. No, it has to be cultivated.
Oh, and I noticed my mood changed. Cool.
1 Kings 19:11 And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks 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 sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice.
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