NATURE IS OBEDIENT TO GOD’S VOICE

Day four in a five-part series on hearing God’s voice

We resist listening to God because we know obedience follows.

Samuels’ heart was heavy and broken as he approached Saul’s camp at Gilgal. Israel’s first King had seriously failed. Samuel meditated and prayed that night because The Lord had notified him of His intentions. “I regret that I have made Saul King, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.”

Saul had tested God’s patience before, and God was gracious to give him another chance. He sent Saul to destroy the wicked Amalekites including their livestock. The directions were explicit but not entirely carried out.

Saul was smiling as the prophet Samuel approached. “Blessed be you to the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord.” But Saul had not. His command was to execute the people and livestock, so the bleating of sheep told Samuel of Saul’s willful disregard of God’s directives. Saul claimed his men delivered the animals to sacrifice to God. The night before, the Lord had informed Samuel His determination to remove Saul from the throne of Israel.

“kinda, Sorta” with God doesn’t exist, it’s either you carry out what He asks, or you be in control. Partial obedience was no obedience. Not following the instructions given cost Saul the loss of his position as King, and later, his life.

Samuel spoke, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.”

Do you dread what God may ask of you if you hear Him speaking to you? Are you afraid He may ask you to give up something you are not ready or prepared to offer Him?

BEING WILLING TO LEARN

Do you want to hear God speak to you?

1. Find a place away from distractions.
2. Still your mind.
3. Then drink the word of God. To hear God’s voice, you must listen to the words He spoke in scripture. Take God’s words as promises to you.
4. Meditate on the words and ask for their meaning.
5. Pray with an open heart.
6. Approach God as your friend.
7. Interject the Father’s promises into your prayer life. Add your name to that promise.
8. Because God cannot lie, you’re confident He hears your prayer and will answer in His way and time.
9. Start over as many times as it takes.
10. Be willing to receive what He has to say.
11. Be ready to fulfill any requests. Remember, He asks, not forces.

Isaiah 30:21, Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

John 16:13, When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.

John 6:63, The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

John 8:47, Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God.