Speak to us, Lord.

And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake 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~ and after the earthquake, a fire;    but the Lord was not in the fire~ and after the fire, a still small voice.    1 Kings 19.11,12 King James Version

We have been looking at the all-important area of our personal prayer lives--communicating our hearts and lives with God, and then learning to listen for his voice as well.  I love how the Lord came to Elijah in the above passage--in the still, small voice or a gentle whisper, as the NIV says.   I have heard from a number of you who are keenly interested in discerning the voice of God, commenting that you have not had teaching on this subject . . . so let's step a little closer. . . Is there anything we can do to ready ourselves to hear from God? Yes, I believe there is.

>Be desirous of God—want more of God in your life.  Or, as Jesus said, “Seek first his kingdom.”1

It should not be that our primary goal is to hear the voice of God; on the contrary, it should be our purpose to engage in a loving relationship with God. **’Interesting to note that before God spoke in the still, small voice to Elijah in the passage above, Elijah said, "I am zealous for the Lord God Almighty." hmmm. . . am I zealous for God?   Are you?

>If you haven't already, get rid of anything that stands between you and God, and might obstruct God's message.  Confess your sins to him, confident that he then forgives you.

>Be a person in the Word.  The primary address at which the word of God may be found is the Bible.  More of God's speaking to me has come in conjunction with study and teaching of the Bible than with anything else.  The Bible expresses the mind of God since God himself speaks to us through its pages. 2

>Be attentive; listen - be aware, be desirous

>Make quiet your friend

>Appropriate 'listening' into your prayer time - Adoration; Confession; Listening; Asking; Thanking

So, you feel that God has spoken to you, in some fashion, how do you know it is God's voice, and not your own, or another's? Well. . .

--Is it consistent with sound biblical teaching?

--Is the voice gently leading, or is it commanding and harsh?

God's voice gently guides and encourages, giving hope--Psalm 18.35.   God leads; Satan drives--John 10.4

God convicts; Satan condemns and brings guilt--Psalm 8.12  God woos; Satan tugs hard

When God speaks, He does not use fear to motivate. If fear overcomes you, it is the enemy, not God--2 Timothy 1.73

--When you are trying to ascertain what God is saying to you, look at circumstances, the Bible, and inner impulses of the Spirit.

Do you think most people want to hear God's voice? Oh, sure they do--when they are in desperate need of help, whether because they need to be rescued or given direction for a big decision--but what about as a matter of course?  Do you?  I do, for sure--when I am walking closely with God, and striving to do life his way. . . the way that I have come to know as the right way--my will surrendered to his.  

God wants to be wanted--to be wanted enough that we are ready and predisposed, to find him present with us.

I don't want to miss his gentle overtures.

Shhh. . . listen.

Christine