I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior when I was around 7 years old. I was a normal child (okay, perhaps that is arguable) but I attended church and learned about God as I grew up, and always believed always wanted to follow. I DIDN’T always obey. Probably around my second year of college, God got my attention through a somewhat traumatic relationship issue, and I realized that if I was serious about this, I needed to listed to God. Listen AND follow.
I’d love to be able to say that from there on in, I was able to do just that. But that’s the tricky part, isn’t it? Even when we are desperate to hear God’s voice, sometimes the noise of the world is simply too distracting, or too appealing, or too confusing. So then, if we really WANT to hear God’s voice, how do we do it? How do we do it in the midst of all the distractions and noises of our lives.
The Bible says, that first, we have to belong to God. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” [John 10:27] Second, we know that He has already spoken much through His word. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. [2 Tim. 3:16-17, also see Ps. 32:8-9]. Finally we have the Spirit of God, who speaks to us when we listen. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” [John 14:26, see also John 14:16-17]
But when all of this seems impossible and God feels distant, I have learned that I must empty myself of…me. And lean into God and TRUST that if I am willing to hear what he has to say, that He truly does want me to understand his will. [Phil 3:13-14]
-Lance