Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track

Proverbs 3: 5-6 MSG

Hello, dear friend.

How are you?  I do apologise that I have not sent a note in three weeks now.

Today’s note focuses on Listening for God’s Voice.  As Pastor Kech often emphasise, “Listening to God is not a luxury.”  God speaks to all His children and delights in conversing with them.  In the Bible, Jesus confidently states that His sheep hear His voice (John 10:27-28)

The challenge lies in our tendency to overlook His communication.  We often approach prayer and worship as a one-sided conversation (monologue) or a religious obligation rather than as a genuine dialogue born out of love and relationship.  Too often, we end up speaking at God rather than speaking with God, thus, missing out on profound fellowship.  While sometimes, we rely a lot on people whom we believe hear God and we tend to want to ask them to seek God on our behalf.  This should not be, remember the veil has been torn and we all have access to God , we have the Holy Spirit living in us to guide, comfort, counsel and instruct us (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews; John 14:16-17, John 14: 27) . Glory be to God!.

To cultivate your ability to hear His voice, ask Him to help you  (Matthew 7:7;  John: 14: 13-14),  and spend consistent time in the Word of God, which I consider His love letter to us.    By studying and meditating on Scripture, we can learn how God speaks, discover His character, and understand His expectations for us.   Always invite the Holy Spirit to guide your understanding, helping you grasp the truths within the text and recognise His voice.   The more time you dedicate to the Word, the more receptive your heart becomes to His nudges and promptings.

Listening for God’s voice also requires sensitivity to the Holy Spirit that dwells within every believer (Galatians 4:6, Romans 8:9, Romans 8:14-15).   Some people expect to hear an audible voice from God or for it to be a dramatic experience, but that is not always the case. Consider this: When engaging with literature, you are often encouraged to listen for the author’s voice.   This involves recognising the unique style and tone that the writer brings to their work.  The more time you spend reading and reflecting on an author, the easier it is to distinguish their voice, even without their name attached.

Studying the Bible is similar, but with added support from the Holy Spirit, who helps interpret and bring the words to life.   To listen for God’s voice in the Bible,  approach it with an expectant heart, relying on the Holy Spirit to guide you to the truth.   By reading regularly, meditating on key passages, and obeying what you learn, you can grow in your ability to discern God’s promptings, understand His character, and align your life with His will.  Please note, it is a steady growth, a growth in Grace (Colosians 1: 9-10 AMP; 2 Peter 3:18)

It is important to embrace the Word of God as a way to renew our minds, understand who He is, and comprehend what He desires from us (Romans 12:2 NIV). Let us not approach studying the Bible purely as a religious exercise that distances us from Christ.  In John 3:39-40,  Jesus pointed out the limitations of the religious leaders of His time, saying, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”  This is because they believed that their devoted study of Scripture guaranteed them eternal life.   They focused on the ritual of reading without seeking true understanding and, as a result, overlooked the Saviour. 

Studying the Bible should be viewed as a joyful chance to strengthen our relationship with God, rather than just a religious obligation or a daily task to mark off.   We should always welcome the Holy Spirit into our study, allowing Him to teach and guide us on our journey to know God better and fulfill His purposes for our lives.

Until next note,  my friend,  I pray in the name of Jesus that He grants you the grace to cultivate His presence, for seeing eyes, hearing ears and a yielded heart.

Do take care my friend.