Regarding your quiet time and prayer-life.. have ya ever just missed on hearin’ God’s voice? I have and so wish I didn’t, but also that I could help someone.
i.e., I’ve been hired by a few wrong (sick) churches before, SO Wrong for my family were they. Yes ones that weren’t spiritual healthy or balanced. Couldn't see the warning flags.. when I should have.
I've served full time in some really healthy ones too. I teach in a really healthy local church right now--it's wonderful and Christ is far more wonderful for leading my family there!
God sure saw when I couldn’t see all the facts. Did He try to warn me? Probably did. Reminds me of what God said…
Dimly, but then clearer. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 kjv
How can I hear God in the future?
“Then He said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.’ And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces 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. So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ And he said, ‘I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.’ Then the LORD said to him: ‘Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.’” 1 Kings 19:11–15 nkjv #emph.mine
Jesus the living word said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (more here..)
“And do not be conformed to this world any longer with its superficial values and customs, but be transformed and progressively changed as you mature spiritually by the renewing of your mind focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes, so that you may prove for yourselves what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect in His plan and purpose for you.” Romans 12:2 amp
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:3
How many times have you felt like you needed God’s guidance, but you were not getting any answers from Him to any of your questions and prayers? The odds are, you have felt that way relatively often. After all, most people are unpleasantly familiar with the feeling of wanting something from God, to reach some goal.. but then being unable to reach it. Most people are also acquainted with reaching some personal goal, taking a job or entering into a relationship.. only to find out that they have made a terrible mistake. or it wasn’t quite what they thought it would be. Did God whisper in you? You probably did get some kind of warning from Him that you were about to make a terrible mistake. You, however, ignored the still small voice — that whisper in the back of your mind telling you to walk away.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit uses other people to get His message through to you, Christian. These messages are normally more blatant than other forms of the Holy Spirit’s influence.
You and I sometimes hear something like this, “Each one of you needs to prayerfully trust your gut feeling or pay attention to your instincts — God’s Spirit speaks in your spirit” ..when you are trying to make a decision.
This is excellent advice really. Everything about a situation — whether it is taking a new job, a new relationship, or a new home or apartment — may seem wonderful, but there is a nagging feeling in the back of your head, or say a knot in your stomach that makes you hesitate. Sometimes, this is just natural concerns over a change. Other times, those inexplicable nerves or unexpected and out of place excitement are a sign that the Holy Spirit is reaching out to you. When you have those feelings, study them carefully in order to determine whether what you are feeling is simply a byproduct of a transition in your life or the result of the Holy Spirit either warning you away from something or encouraging you along the path God has planned for you.
When every door closes, it can seem like God has forgotten about you. It is seem like that to me before. The opposite, however, is usually true. When the Holy Spirit closes doors it is because those are not the doors you are meant to take. What lies on the other side of them will keep you from walking the path that God has laid out for you. That may seem like cold comfort when you are out hunting for work that pays or feeling excessively lonely, but there is a good plan, and come hell or high water, the Holy Spirit is going to make sure you follow it.. follow Christ closely.
The Holy Spirit is always calling you close, but you might not be closely listening. If you are expecting the spiritual equivalent of a neon sign or shout, you will not notice the gentle and quiet little suggestions that may be left in your path or day. You will ignore warnings, miss find opportunities and then wonder why you are not receiving His guidance. The Holy Spirit is always there with you, won’t leave you, but that does you no good if you are not willing to listen to its voice.
In a sick world that seems to be getting spiritually sicker on different levels.. just be willing to obey Jesus, to ask, to hear.. yes, to know Jesus well, and then boldly make Him well known. Starting where you are. He will help you.
Man, how can I know for sure if I am hearing from God, or hearing Satan, or hearing my own fickle thoughts?
Daily.. I really really need the Word and the Holy Spirit to know if I am hearing from God the Father, instead of hearing from Satan (I never want any extended conversations with Mr. Lu-Cifer — why listen to a liar, to the father of all lies? Break off fellowship with that total Dweeb!).. or from another fallen angel (lying spirit), or merely hearing from my own fickle thoughts or feelings? My own opinions are only worth as much as the next guy — about a nickle perhaps. Jesus said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. So why is it sometimes so hard for people to discern the difference? Read more...
1. How can I know? It’s important.
Why do people want to hear from God beyond what He has said in His Word? (What God says to you will always agree with what is written in the Bible. It won’t go against the Bible)
I really want to hear from God. Why can’t I hear God speaking to me?
God hears sinners willing to hear God and change. What impact did the “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon of Jonathan Edwards have?
What are the keys to growing closer to God?
Does God listen to the prayers of non-Christians? Say and really mean, God forgive me a sinner. I turn (repent) and trust (believe) in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross. Yes, He will indeed hear you and forgive your sins. Did mine gladly.
Does God understand when/if we doubt Him?
What does it mean to know God well? How can I know and understand who God is and what He expects?
9. Questions about the Christian Life and hearing the Lord as He leads?
