How clearly do you hear God? - From My Prayer Closet (Part 2)

As you read in part one of this article. God did something wonderful for me regarding my quest for a job. But, through out this period, I had prayed, believed and listened to Him. The final result was so wonderful I am still enjoying the benefits today even if I no longer work for that company. God clearly set me up in a place where through the years he led guided and took care of me. I saw His hand in everything during the trials and good times. I should testify that there is nothing better than walking in the light of God and being at the center of His will.

When you talk with God, how clearly do you hear Him? What do you want to hear from Him?  May be the right question. And do you really want to hear from him and believe that you can hear from Him?

 ISA 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

This was my constant song during my job seeking period. I was told many times that I was crazy to be having such high expectations, but between me and God, it was clear that He would honor my prayers and desires because he had clearly given them to me for a purpose, His divine purpose not my selfish motives. My signals got a bit mixed up when I went and tried to get what I wanted on my own. When it was time, I did not have to do anything, he came and found me waiting without patiently.

What is God saying to you in your prayer closet? Are you listening to Him or to the voices from without?  God’s voice says I am about to do a new thing. The voices from outside say, do not be a dreamer do what everyone else is doing. God’s voice says I am making a way in the desert and the voice from outside says, are you crazy, this desert has been here since before we were born. The Voice of God says I will put streams in the wasteland, the voice from outside says, go buy yourself a bottle of water from the grocery store, we have never seen any streams coming out of the wastelands, in any case there has all the river beds around here are dried up and it has not rained well for years.

Hearing God’s voice clearly requires us to walk closely with God and discern his move, the times and seasons. It requires us to close our ears to all wisdom that is not descended from above.

2CO 1:12 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace.

This piece of writing has nothing to do with wise counsel. Clearly God does put people in our way whom if we are walking close with Him we will have no doubt God is speaking to us. Just like the leader of our small group advised me and I listened because I perceived God was directing me through Him.

ISA 50:5 The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious;   I have not drawn back.

There however is a prerequisite to hearing God’s voice clearly in spite of circumstances that bring so much pressure to bear on us contrary to what we believe to be the will of God.

1JN 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

The blood of Jesus has made a way for us into the Holy of Holies, where as before, sacrifices had to be made by priests to go into the presence of  God, the blood of the son of man that cleans us from all sin has made a way for us into the most holy place where God dwells. That dwelling is within us, in our hearts. The Holy Spirit abides in us and how much more clearly should we be able to hear Him? Let Him give you ears to hear Him and a tongue to proclaim Him to others or speak to yourself.

ISA 50:4 The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.

But hearing from God also requires us to be people who are trusting and unwavering. Trusting in God means that no matter what the circumstances, we hold Him to be true who has spoken that He will do what He said He would do.

HEB 11:11 By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12 And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

And remember, when the voice outside contradicts the gentle but consistent voice within, you should know that you are already at war to uphold the promises of God or you will become more confused and not get anything from the Lord.

 James 1:6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

PS 125:1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.

 PS 125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds his people    both now and forevermore.

As God surrounded His people in Bible times, so does He now. We can rest assured, He is watching over His word to perform it.

 JER 1:12 The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled."

 Ezekiel 12:25 But I the LORD will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay.