Day 4: God Speaks to Reveal Himself, His Purposes and His Ways

When God Speaks: How to Recognize God’s Voice and Respond in Obedience

God always speaks with a purpose. That was the opening sentence of today’s study. God always speaks with a purpose. So why don’t I always listen? Good question.

He broke this study down into three parts, as per the title for the day.

• God speaks to reveal Himself (Exodus 6:2-3)

  What I gathered from this is that God wants to reveal new dimensions of Himself to me, when I’m ready. One of the sentences I underlined was “All of your activity is based upon your understanding of who He is.” I think that is probably why we have so many different belief systems because we are each at a different place in our understanding of Him.

  The other thing is that if God is not revealing a deeper understanding of Him, of life, it is because I’m not ready. As Jesus told the disciples, I’d like to tell you more, but you can’t handle it.

• God speaks to reveal His purposes (Jeremiah 29:11, Jeremiah 33:3, Luke 19:10)

  Well then, what are His purposes? To reconcile with His children, to let them know Him, to save them. What I must understand is that His ways are not mine. I must learn to accept that I do not and will not know why some things occur, just let them occur, without trying to place my desires in control.

• God speaks to reveal His ways (Isaiah 55:8-9, Psalms 25:4, 12, 2^nd Samuel 6:1-11)

  I guess I could call this one tough love. It is true that I have lost my fear of the Lord; it is a confusing message that says you are to have a personal friendship on the one hand and fear the Lord on the other.

  Several times I wrote down “Be Different”. Interestingly, I have a series of books in my library by Warren Wiersbe called the “Be” series. I think he should write one titled Be Different. What is God revealing to others through me? Scary question after reading 2^nd Samuel 6:1-11. I need to remind myself of the power of the Lord from time to time to remember that I need to be different than the world around me.

Talked to LB shortly after today’s study and we discussed it, he also enjoyed it. He was able to meet with CH last night after church for a few minutes and encourage him. LB noticed the same thing that I did, CH is having a tough time forgiving himself for whatever he has done in the past that has the potential to destroy him and his family.

CH also mentioned that he isn’t hearing God speak at all during the studies even though he is straining to. I think that is the answer right there, he is straining to hear God speaking, straining so much his heart is closed. Just relax and let God love you. That is the first step, you will learn more as you move through life, making yourself accessible and cultivating the relationship.

^{Isaiah 55:8–11} “I don’t think the way you think.
The way you work isn’t the way I work.”
God’s Decree.
“For as the sky soars high above earth,
so the way I work surpasses the way you work,
and the way I think is beyond the way you think.
Just as rain and snow descend from the skies
and don’t go back until they’ve watered the earth,
Doing their work of making things grow and blossom,
producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry,
So will the words that come out of my mouth
not come back empty-handed.
They’ll do the work I sent them to do,
they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.