Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days. There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand.
Memory of the Month:Proverbs 15:1-A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Today's reading: Isaiah 34-36 COLOSSIANS 2
Hearing God's Voice
The liberal left seems to be willing to say anything about those of us who know the Lord Jesus. Several things come to mind. First, let them talk all they want. Paul talked about them in his letter to the Colossians, chapter 2:
8 "Make sure no predator makes you his prey through some misleading philosophy and empty deception based on traditions fabricated by mere mortals. These are sourced in the elementary principles originating in this world and not in the Anointed One (so don’t let their talks capture you)."(The Voice Translation)
What one man on TV said was, "These people are insane-they think they can talk to God and that He speaks to them".
First, I feel compassion on someone so confused. We know that if you are not hearing God, you simply are not listening. These folks are deceived by the world-the enemy-they have fallen prey to the 'elementary principles originating in this world'. They are the 'lost'. They are the captives. The lost are the ones Jesus died on the cross to save and set free. Our first reaction to hearing things such as this is to pray for the soul of the deceived-not go off on some shallow judgement rant and let our emotions run wild as we witness in some of the right winged media.
Next, we should hear what Paul said in that same chapter in verses 6&7:
"Continue to journey with Him(Jesus)". Are we? Are we walking with Jesus? Are we really?
"Allow Him to shape our lives". How are you allowing Jesus to shape your life? How do we do that? No one but God can give you that answer. But it starts with devotion to Him and the written word and developing a consciousness of the Holy Spirit-keeping our minds on His kingdom and His righteousness.
"Let your roots grow down deeply in Him." In nature, the roots of a tree simply grow as designed. As a child of God, we must choose for our roots to go deep and our roots will go as deeply as we want them to. This is why constant seeking and listening is a must. We cannot afford to let up or we give the world a chance to get back in.
Ephesians 4:27 ►and do not give the devil a foothold.
Paul continues: "Let Him build you up on a firm foundation".
Seek fellowship with other believers as you study and pray on your own and together always listening to the quiet voice of God. I believe that to 'strain' to hear God is pointless. That is one of the reasons the Bible says to 'wait' on God.
Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.
Letting your roots run deep means that you seek God to make this happen. But, in God's presence-that deep place He has just for you-there is no impatience...patience is the heart of God. We must be still and simply be in awe of Him and listen.
When we are hurting and cry out to God, He never loses patience with us.
Psalm 118:5 ►When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place.
This is the place. That deep place where God waits just for you and you alone.
Paul went on: "Be strong in the faith"-building strength in our world means going to the gym and working consistently.
In God's kingdom, strength is built by putting in the work, quietly in prayer , meditation, and obedience.
Paul said : "Spill over with thankfulness".
Yes, being thankful in the hard things is hard. This is part of the work we do. Listening to God's heart in hard times is tough-can be really hard-but difficult times are made to display God's power in His love.
God speaks-are you listening?
...because He loves us...
Father in Heaven,
Have mercy on me and let me learn how to be still and hear so I can hear all the time. Forgive me my deafness.
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