You are not alone. If you struggle to hear God tell you which way to go, join the crowd. Many people who are trying to figure out the god thing will tell you that they are not sure how to know when God has said something. Ask them if they find it easy to get a specific answer form God about a certain decision, and often the answer will be a definite “no.” The conclusion we are tempted to is that God is not talking to us. In other words, we assume the trouble is on the other end of the line. And right about now you know what is coming next, don’t you? Yep, you were right, the trouble with hearing God is not on his end. We are the one who need to learn how to pick up on his communications. Relax, that is a good thing. If the problem is on our end then we can do something to correct the situation!
Lucky for you I have created a resource that is designed to teach key essential truths and help you make the necessary changes so that hearing God can be more natural, normal, and regular. Here is an excerpt from the preface:
Seriously, it is not as hard as it seems. But there are often a lot of voices vying for pole position in your listening queue. While it may not be a difficult process it can be confusing, making it seem very complicated. But most of the problem is with fear and misunderstanding. Most of the difficulty lies with our own issues and mistaken ideas. The problem is not with God, but with how we think about him, what we expect of him, and how small we make him. Once you get use to thinking differently; and have employed some version of my suggestions, you will find that it becomes more natural, more instinctive, less eventful, less stressful. Hearing God – and knowing that you have – can be a daily thing. There is no magic here, no silver bullet or secret recipe.
As you read, you will discover what the key mistake that people make is. It is the primary reason that people struggle to know and do the will of God. Then you will be told 13 key foundational truths that if held, will give you a good base from which to listen for God. You will hear a retelling of a Biblical story that shows how those keys might work in a person’s life. Then we will get into a very loose process for asking God questions and hearing his answers just before a short explanation of the primary goal in listening for God and a final Bible story that helps you see how not to ask and follow God.
I encourage you to put in the couple hours that it will take to read the 50+ pages of this tools. It is an easy read full of great stories, humor, and many solid Christian truths regarding God and how we should relate with him. When you are done you will know how to know and do God’s will. Of course, that will leave you to make the decision if you will listen and do his will or not, but the question of how to hear him should be answered.
If he is talking that means he cares. If he is directing us that means he loves us. He wants what is best, he cares what happens, and he has plans for us. If he cares, loves, and has plans, that means he takes the first step toward relationship with us! God is talking to you, generally through things like circumstances and the wonder of this incredible world that pulsates with life all around you. But God is also communicating specifically to you, about you, and about how you can join him in his activities on earth in such a way that your life will gain meaning and joy. If we can learn to listen better, tune in to his frequency, the static begins to fade and we start to hear him clearly.
God does not play games with us. Knowing what he wants is not an impossible hide-and-seek game with God the cosmic invisible hider making sure he will not be found by us. If you consider the creation that we see pulsating with life all around us as evidence of God’s existence, you realize that God indeed is not hiding! Read the Bible and you will find God pursuing us and making himself findable time and time again. Burning bushes that are not consumed, a pillar of fire in the night, angelic visits, whips of fire dancing over people’s heads, and too many “God said’s” to count. Knowing and doing God’s will gives life and hope and rest, not discouragement and frustrations and exhaustion. Its can be as unforced and natural as breathing. Does that seem like too much to hope for? Let me show you how Jesus talks about it…
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28–30, The Message)
That sounds very attractive to me. That sounds like a promise that I want in my life. You? I am suggesting that the desire to hear God talking to you about your life is your ticket to that kind of recovery of life that is described in those words of Jesus. He will show you how to rest. We can know him well enough to walk and work with him and not against him anymore. What he asks and where he leads will fit how he made you enabling you to learn to live in rhythm with him. And that relationship will teach you how to live freely and lightly!
If you would like to to read “Listen, Hear, Do: The lost art of recognizing God’s voice,” just click the link.
In the mean time, think through what it takes to LEARN 2 LIVE with God as your leaders.