Tag: Hearing God

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Obstacles to Hearing God

“For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.”—Job 33:14

A few years ago, I underwent some medical diagnostics, which included a hearing evaluation. Speech reception thresholds were where they should be, word recognition was “excellent,” and sensorineural hearing loss tested within normal limits, albeit with one notable exception: I had experienced “mild” loss in two of the measured sound frequencies. It just so happens that these two outliers were higher-pitched frequencies, specifically those common to female voices, so this mild hearing loss has occasionally served me as a credible (and convenient) defense. (“Honest, honey, I didn’t hear you.”)

God speaks in many ways, and over time His people have heard Him through each of them. This is not to suggest we hear God whenever He has something to say; perhaps most often when God “speaks in one way, and in two,” we do not “perceive it.” Why is this? How can we possibly miss the authoritative Voice that spoke creation into being and us into His image? What forces divert our attention, and which noises clutter our thoughts in confusion?

There are several obstacles to hearing God, and it is crucial that we recognize them as they confront us. Our “flesh”—that part of us that is prone to sin and opposed to God—has its worldly cravings, and these “desires of the flesh are against the Spirit.”1 So, tuning out all desires but our own comes naturally to us, and conversely, we are susceptible to ascribing our self-serving thoughts as being God’s will. These temptations are deliberate, for spiritual warfare is real, and Satan, our adversary, is an active schemer2 who will do anything to deceive us,3 even if it means disguising himself as “an angel of light.”4 He would confuse us, in his cunning, and lead our thoughts astray.5 Then there is outright rebellion against God and the brazen refusal to hear Him. God grieves through the prophet Jeremiah: “I spoke to you, speaking again and again, but you did not listen, and I called you but you did not answer.”6

Yet there is no obstacle that can prevail against God. “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world,”7 assured Jesus mere hours before His arrest. Born of God through faith in Christ, we, too, are overcomers.8 His Spirit lives in us in truth and works through us in power. Then like our forebears in the faith, may this be our resolve: “We destroy arguments and every proud obstacle to the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.”9

Obstacles confront us; watch for them. Truth is on our side; listen for Him.

“Speak, for Your servant is listening.”—1 Samuel 3:10 NASB

Father, draw us near to You, that we would know Your voice, hear Your voice, trust Your voice, and obey Your voice. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 Galatians 5:17
2 Ephesians 6:11
3 2 Corinthians 11:3
4 2 Corinthians 11:14
5 2 Corinthians 11:3
6 Jeremiah 7:13 NASB
7 John 16:33
8 1 John 5:4
9 2 Corinthians 10:5 RSV

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Hearing God—Series Wrap-up

Our church’s Young Professionals group had asked if someone could speak with them on the topic of hearing God and discerning His voice, and one of our pastors suggested me. We had a wonderful time of teaching and sharing, and of questions and answers. That evening sent me down this blog path on the crucial topic of hearing God: we began this series on July 21 and conclude today—16 posts and 80-something Bible verses later. We have covered a lot of ground, and so I offer this topical summary and links to the respective posts. Perhaps they will be a helpful reference for you in the future and/or thought-provoking discussion material for your small group . . . 

Hearing God and knowing His voice begins at relationship—Draw Near and Hear
God speaks to us for one ultimate purpose: to glorify Him—Our Purpose and God’s Voice
God speaks to us through the Word—The Bible is Changing Me
God speaks to us through prayer—As One Speaks to a Friend
God speaks to us through events around us—Of People, Circumstances and Timing
God speaks to us as we meditate on Scripture—Sitting Quietly with God
We perceive God’s voice as He wills—This Is the Way; Walk in It
God’s voice comes to us and sends us in His direction— The Still, Small Voice
God speaks to us in His timing; we wait for Him—The P Word
We sometimes hear God long after He has spoken— Hearing God in Retrospect
God speaks His will to whomever He chooses—Should We Be Surprised?
We recognize God’s voice by His character—The Frequency of Life
God speaks advocacy in the face of accusation—The Accuser and the Advocate
As we seek God’s voice, He seeks our obedience—The Other Side of Hearing God
God calls us to share His words with others—A Time To Speak

There is no formula in speaking with and hearing from God. There is no if/then coding logic. Moreover, we cannot manipulate Him, control Him, or even accurately predict Him. Rather, we trust Him, knowing He will speak truth in love from His character of holiness. In a sense, it all comes down to this: God loves us as a Father loves His children. He has much to say, and He wants us to hear Him. Walk with Him, talk with Him; sit with Him and listen. It’s called, “relationship.” We are His desire, and He is ours.

Glory be to God.

Father, You chose us through the work of Your Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ.1 Grace us to relate with You throughout the day as people who are loved so exceedingly well. May we hear Your voice and know it above all others, and in the wonder and freedom of Your love, find us joyful to hear and eager to obey. We love you as Your people in Christ in whose name we pray. Amen.

1 1 Peter 1:1-2

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Should We Be Surprised?

“Tammy, all your life you have been ashamed and embarrassed. Now you have a way to make dignity for all others. Trust me. Trust me. Open a dignity center.” Thus spoke God to Tammy Jewell. She knew very little about the Bible and she hadn’t gone to church in close to 40 years, but she always believed Jesus was real. “Oh my God, a prostitute, a broken prostitute?!?” she thought to herself. Tammy had been raised in extreme poverty and quit school after the fifth grade because she was dirty and bullied for it. Then sold into human trafficking at a very young age, she lived much of her life tethered to prostitution by the invisible chains of addiction and intimidation before escaping its confines. But now she kept hearing God’s voice “clearer and louder each day.” “Father,” she said, “if it’s you, then you know my education’s only in the fifth grade.” But God persisted in His call: “Tammy! If you listen to me, Tammy, you will provide [dignity to] hundreds and thousands of others. Do not worry about your education. Do not worry about the money. Do not worry. Do what I’m telling you to do.”

Jesus surprises us. Returning to Jacob’s well from the village of Sychar, His disciples “were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, ‘What do you want?’ or ‘Why are you talking with her?’”1 But then why should we be surprised by One who will not let the cultural conventions of human construct isolate Him from His people whom He loves? If Jesus never engaged us face-to-face or heart-to-heart, how could He preach good news to the poor . . . bind up the brokenhearted . . . proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners . . . or comfort all who mourn”?2 Of course, God speaks to us—He loves us. And as we long to hear His voice, even more so does He desire for us to trust Him and do what He says.

Tammy did. In 2015, she opened God’s Hygiene Help Center (GHHC) in Columbus, Ohio, which now serves between 400 and 500 people each month from their primary location. GHHC has added two more help centers in the meantime and now partners with other service organizations and government agencies in the area. Plans are underway to collaborate with still more support organizations and to provide hygiene products—and the dignity they provide—through additional help centers. All because God spoke, and Tammy heard. Tammy obeyed God, and through her, One has blessed hundreds. Should we be surprised?

Father, You speak to us because You love us. Find us to be humble that we would hear Your voice; find us to be faithful, that we would trust and obey. In Christ we pray. Amen.

1 John 4:27
2 Isaiah 61:1-2