It's Walk with Him Wednesday and Ann of A Holy Experience has invited us to write about ...listening to God.
First of all, I find it truly amazing that the one true living God who created the universe and every little creature would even want to be in a personal relationship with me. But the Bible tells me He does. And I accepted and received this ...by faith.
When two are in a relationship there is an exchange that takes place.
Consider the marriage relationship. If I did all of the talking and my husband simply listened and never responded, it would be a one sided relationship. It takes a proper amount of speaking and ...listening to one another.
In my relationship with the Lord, I have a tendency at times to do all of the talking. You know, here is my list of requests Lord; like He was some kind of a Santa Claus. How disrespectful is that?
The more I get to know Him though, the more time I desire to spend with Him.
I look forward to my daily morning quiet time. As I come before the Lord in prayer, I praise Him first for who He is. I then thank Him for His presence in my life. I open the Scriptures to read from His Word. There have been times when a particular verse of Scripture seems to leap off the page. It's like God is saying:
"Debbie, pay attention here. I'm speaking to you."
Here are some ways I listen to God:
- Spend time in prayer
- Ask the Lord to open my eyes and my ears to all He has for me this day
- Pray that I would be sensitive to His leading this day
- Ask His Holy Spirit to teach me as I study His Word
- Meditate on Scriptures
- Ask for opportunities to apply what I've learned
- Reading Christian books from authors who share the truth
- Listening to sermons from preachers who teach the truth
- Being quiet enough to hear His still, small voice throughout my day
- There are times when the Lord awakens me with a song
- My Christian sisters have shared truth with me and keep me accountable.
How often do you get so busy in our day to day activities and responsibilities that you allow the world to drown out His voice?
Let's not allow this to happen. If you want to live a life that has eternal consequences, it's so important to ...listen to God.
How about you? Do you do all the talking? Or do you spend the time needed to listen?
I look forward to reading your comments. After all, I love to listen to you. LOL.
Blessings,
i need to hear from the Lord again. i'm going through something right now and i desperately need revelation from God.
ReplyDeleteLike this morning when I woke up with "Glorious" in my head. I searched the web to find the song to play on my laptop which sets right on the dining table across the kitchen...As the song was playing - I was dancing in the kitchen raising my hands - I knew that He had put this song in my head and on my heart -- He reminded me through this particular song that He is always there - no matter how stressful my day gets - He is right there...
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your ways how to listen to God...
Love & peace,
Iris
I liked your list of ways you listen to God. I was just thinking, there is a radio station that bills itself as "easy listening." One of God's "easy listening" books is the Psalms - there is always such comfort there. And then of course, Christian music gets my attention. Some of it more than others, but still, I do love the way God speaks to me through music. And I can't forget nature. Last night there was the most beautiful sunset, the sky was ablaze with copper color, a real masterpiece. My husband was driving home from work and called me to look at it with him. We were both so impressed with what an amazing God we have.
ReplyDeleteTimely and truth packed message. Love it!
ReplyDeleteThank you,
Kim
I needed this, I talk too much! God has been drawing me into a quiet place.
ReplyDeleteThere are times when I'm praying and when all of a sudden I hear...shhh.
love and hugs~Tammy
Another beautiful post Debbie!
ReplyDeleteBeing quieted with you!
Love,
Jill
Great post Debbie! The cartoon says it all. Thanks for stopping by our blog - looking forward to being blog friends :)
ReplyDeleteThis was great Deb, amd your list on how to "hear" Him was very helpful. I do need to work on this. I always have "talked" too much, haha. Have a wonderful day, and thanks for posting this. Hugs, Debbie
ReplyDeleteI doubt that there is one person who reads this and can't relate! One more reminder this morning for me. My verse is BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.... it's the KNOW part that I am really seeking this year, but first, I need to BE STILL.
ReplyDeleteThanks Debbie.
Thank you so much for quieting me, reminding me that the Still Small Voice is the most important.
ReplyDeletegrace and peace,
aimee
That cartoon about the sheep is hilarious :) LOL. Ha!
ReplyDeleteThis post goes right along with some of the things I've been hashing out lately :) I do need to listen more. A lot more. Thank you soooo much encouraging me to do so - in this post and in your comments!
Thanks for being so wise and wonderful. I'm thankful for you!
Listening,
Kate :)
Debbie,
ReplyDeleteYou always have such insightful writings. I'm glad you put your fingers to keyboard for us.
Yes, it is amazing that the Lord even WANTS a relationship with us. We are truly blessed. I need to learn to let him do more of the talking and me do more of the listening.
Blessings,
Lisa
It's about relationship. A two-sided conversation. Oh how I need to open my ears and shut my mouth.
ReplyDeleteSo true. So Good.
Thank you.
Great reminder, Debbie! A relationship takes two listening and talking to each other....and I've found for me that I need to set that time for the Lord first or the enemy robs my intentions of it ever happening in the day.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, as always, my friend. Good to click on that name and see your smiling face! Love ya!
This was awesome Debbie! I share all those things you spoke about. I just need to do them more often.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Traci
"The more I get to know Him though, the more time I desire to spend with Him."
ReplyDeleteYes, it is the desire, Debbie, that continues to draw ever closer. Our walk with Him is so precious because of Who He is. May we grow ever near to our LORD through our open ears.
~ linda
God bless us all. Never forget to hear our hearts and of course our logic for many things in life. God is not up there ready for everything for us...
ReplyDeleteLove the cartoon - too true.
ReplyDeleteDebbie,
ReplyDeleteI really like your bulleted list here. I'm a concrete person...I love when someone lays out the nuts and bolts of how they do something. And listening to God, really listening, is something I need to work on. Thank you!
It's so much easier for me sometimes to tune out instead of tune in. I am much like the sheep in your cartoon!
ReplyDeleteI, too am in awe that our wonderful Lord truly wants an intimate relationship with little ole me...but still, I forget sometimes and run down the list of requests before I ever stop...look at Him...and just LISTEN...great post!
ReplyDeleteExcellent post, Debbie, and another great cartoon. I need to listen more.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, this is such a good post. We need to be reminded of these things. We really do get so distracted at times that we allow everything around us to dictate our thoughts and actions.
ReplyDeleteGreat word, my friend!
I just love this : "There have been times when a particular verse of Scripture seems to leap off the page. It's like God is saying:
ReplyDelete"Debbie, pay attention here. I'm speaking to you."
Oh, I love it when HE does that!! I so agree it is so amazing that God, the Creator of the Heavens and earth would want to have a relationship with me!! It's crazy, wild and oh so amazing!! Thank you Debbie for your words, for your heart!! Be Blessed! Angie in GA
What a great post! I love the graphic! That can be me at times for sure!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the wonderful encouragement!
I loved reading this. This was such an encouragement. I am re thinking how to have my quiet times and prayer times. I am learning to listen more and respond after God speaks as opposed to talking more and expecting God to respond.
ReplyDeletePsalms 143:8 says:
"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul."
Kenas Otieno, Nairobi, Kenya
Christianity is unique among religions, for it alone offers a personal relationship with the Creator beginning here and now, and lasting throughout eternity. Jesus declared, "This is eternal life that they may know [God]" (Jn. 17:2). Unfortunately, many in the Church miss the great blessing of fellowship with our Lord because we have lost the ability to recognize His voice within us. Though we have the promise that "My sheep hear My voice," too many believers are starved for that intimate relationship that alone can satisfy the desire of their hearts.
ReplyDeleteI was one of those sheep who was deaf to his Shepherd until the Lord revealed four very simple keys (found in Habakkuk 2:1, 2) that unlocked the treasure of His voice.