“If anyone has an ear, let him hear.” – Revelation 13:9
“To have God speak to the heart is a majestic experience, an experience that people may miss if they monopolize the conversation and never pause to hear God’s responses.” – Charles Stanley
Success-Minded People understand, work at and develop the art of listening to one another. We want to hear what people say and want them to hear us as well. You will find on argument that listening – good listening – is key to the success of many. But when it comes to listening to God we change course a bit. We talk far more than we listen, we have a hard time hearing and we see not hearing as a matter of course. It is not because we do not think what He has to say is important. I believe as Success-Minded People we know that His words are the most important we can hear. No, the problem goes a bit deeper than that.
Many people – even Success-Minded People have gotten into their heads that they are unworthy for God to talk to them and therefore never try to hear from Him. It is true that we are unworthy, but that is the awesomeness of a loving and merciful God. He cares for us even though we do nothing to earn it. Search the Scriptures and all of church history and you will not find one person who is worthy of God love and care. We have all sinned and all went our own way. However, it is God’s desire to fellowship with us and to use us for His glory in this life.
The Will of God: In my many years of working with the Christian community the most common question I am asked is: “How do I know God’s will for my life?” You can find books, CD’s and material of all kinds on the will of God and yet no one seems to know just how to find it. I believe that the will of God for you is no secret. God is not playing some game where He tells us He has a plan for our life but He is not going to tell us what it is.
God has placed in you not only His will for your life (you purpose) but the desire to do it. Why do we think that God’s will is always going to be unpleasant and something we will not want? Missionary Jim Elliot said, “Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.” God’s will is the only place we will find fulfillment, peace and satisfaction. It is a good thing not something that we fear and dread. Your dream is most likely God’s will for your life.
We also make the mistake thinking that God’s will is only ministry based and spiritual. We think, and sadly sometime are taught; that business, medicine, education or the arts cannot be God’s will for us. How silly is that? We as believers are to be the catalyst for change in this world, how does that happen when we give up our role as influencers? That is why our society is in the mess it is in – we have given up out God given role to make change. Harry Emerson Fosdick said, “Christians are supposed not merely to endure change, nor even to profit by it, but to cause it.”
His Voice: Another problem many have in listening to God is they do not know His voice. They think that it will be loud, powerful and in King James’ English. I think of young Samuel being called by God in the night and not knowing who it was. You can find the account in 1 Samuel 3:1-14. We, like Samuel, can hear the Lord calling to us but we think it is someone else or our own thoughts or even the enemy. Jesus said that His sheep (us) will know His voice. I believe we all hear His voice and we only need to listen to hear what He has for us.
Many of us have had times that we get a thought or feeling from nowhere and wonder if it was the Lord speaking to us. I say listen and go with it. There are things we can know for certain and use as tools in judging if we are hearing from God:
The Lord will not ask us to sin – EVER.
The Lord will never go against His word (the Bible).
The Lord will give us a peace or certainty about His will.
The Lord will be consistent. He does not change His mind every few seconds.
The Lord will not lead us to cause harm or seek revenge on others.
Take the time to listen to the Lord. He does not always speak to our hearts quickly. At times He calls us to wait on Him and to listen. E.M. Bounds said, “It is hard to wait and press and pray and hear no voice, but stay till God answers.” Talk with the Lord, as you do with others. As He talks back to you, discuss the questions, clarify the answers and hear the instructions. Prayer is not just you telling God what you want; it is as Billy Graham described it: “Prayer is simply a two-way conversation between you and God.” Or as the late Andrew Murray wrote, “Prayer is not a monologue, but dialogue. God’s voice in response to mine is its most essential part.”
His Leading: Success-Minded People need to understand that listening to the voice of God is not just so we let Him talk; it is how we get our direction and plans to move forward. Jesus told us that the Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth. How can we be lead if we do not listen? And that listening is not just restricted to prayer times. We must keep our ear tuned to the voice of God at all times. Is there a decision to be made? Listen to what the Lord is telling you. Is there a goal to be reached or task to be done? Listen as you work. Do not stop what you are doing to find out what to do. God will direct you as you move forward. There is an old saying and very true: “You can only steer a moving train.”
Prayer: Success-Minded People know that prayer is the most important part of their day. It is where we get strength, wisdom and direction. Pastor David Jeremiah said, “Prayer is the way you defeat the devil, reach the lost, restore the backslider, strengthen the saints, send missionaries out, cure the sick, accomplish the impossible, and know the will of God.” Prayer is the power to allow us to live successful lives that add value to people and glory to God.
Remember the very familiar words of Isaiah 40:31: “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” Wait and listen and you will hear.
© 2011 John Patrick Hickey
