This one is especially for the 3D Pilot Group who are currently reading Dallas Willard's HEARING GOD. - Steve
Every believer wants to hear from God.
Why would you attempt to follow God closely if you didn’t want to know His voice or hear what He has to say?
Jesus said, “
My sheep know my voice.” (John
10:27)
That’s especially true in the circumstances of our life. When life is
happening — we want to know: Is this God? Is this what He is telling me
to do? Is God trying to get my attention?
And, I believe, sometimes life if just happening. It’s not at all
that God isn’t interested or in control. He counts hairs on our head and
stores our tears in a bottle — He cares. But, sometimes life is life.
Things happen. Doors open. Doors close. Jobs are lost. Health changes.
The deal on the house we wanted falls through. We don’t get the
scholarship we hoped we would. Life happens
.
And, yet, I do believe God will use our circumstances to speak to us. He used a burning bush to speak to Moses.
I wish He’d use one to speak to me sometimes. I think I’d pay attention to that.
And, I think that’s part of the problem.
One thing I’ve observed is that we often expect God to speak in the
grandiose voice of God. And, sometimes God speaks that way, but many
times — at least in my life — God is more subtle than that. Often God
speaks through those quiet moments, through other people, and through
ordinary life’s circumstances.
In a crowded world of noise and life distractions sometimes it’s hard to understand what God is saying. Isn’t it?
How do we — in the midst of our circumstances — as mixed up and
confusing as they can be — figure out what God could be saying to us?
First, I have to say this — it begins and ends in a relationship. If
you don’t have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ — start
there. (Read Romans 10:9 and if you have questions, email me.)
But, for those who have a relationship already — which is the
majority of my readers — how do we hear God’s voice through our
circumstances?
Here are 7 thoughts on hearing God speak through the circumstances of life:
Mirror your circumstances with the truth of God’s Word
God will never contradict Himself. He will never speak to us — even
through our circumstances — in a way that will contradict His written
word. I hear people at times claim God is telling them to do something
that is in violation with what God has already said. That’s never God.
God uses people to confirm His voice
Even in circumstances, in my experience, God often sends people into
our path to confirm His will for our life. People who attempt to follow
God with their life can help us to hear from God.
Every time God has called me to something there have been others to
confirm they are hearing the same calling. I’ve often had to cycle
through the naysayers to hear them, but they are there. I seek out
wisdom of others.
When we went to plant a church — I thought that’s what God was doing —
the doors certainly kept opening, but one loud voice of God were the
number of people who kept bringing it to my attention unsolicited —
including one prophetic pastor (who claimed to not be a prophet) who
spoke directly to a 10 year old vision of the plant exactly as God had
originally shared it with me. That was my burning bush, but they don’t
come along often. Probably only when you’re as stubborn as I am.
Recognize that God operates from a plan
Proverbs 16:9 says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the
Lord determines his steps.” Rick Warren has sold millions of books
telling us that we should live our life with a purpose. God’s purpose.
Looking back over my life, I could never have scripted it, but I see
how God has used me according to an overall plan. He’s used my life
experiences to shape me for where I am
today.in
church planting He used my business entrepreneurial experience. In
church revitalization, He’s used my business transition experience. God
knows how to use a past for His good.
Examine your circumstances in light of God’s overall plan
When trying to hear from God through the circumstances of life, we
should not try to make a decision on one event or set of circumstances.
Circumstances may or may not be God speaking to us. We should look at
our life over a span of months or years.
Jeremiah 29:11 indicates that God has a definite plan to proper us
and give us hope, but it would take the people 70 years to get there.
(We often miss that part when celebrating that verse.)
When we look at our life over time we will be able to see what God
has been doing. When the circumstances of life consistently line up over
time with God’s overall plan it is possible that God is trying to speak
through those circumstances.
How many times do we have to hear the same thing — or experience the
same circumstances — before we recognize and obey the voice of God?
Before God called me into ministry the voices speaking into my life
were many. I was available at the time — in between business careers,
there were tons of confirmations and signs, and I had to view my life in
the context of God’s master plan — of what He had been shaping for
years.
Don’t allow circumstances to keep you from hearing or obeying God
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 16:8-9 (NIV) “But I will stay on at
Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has
opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.” The common sense thing
to do when everyone opposes you would be to leave, but Paul knew the
circumstances were not indicative of God’s will for his life.
Sometimes our circumstances may look gloomy, but we haven’t heard the
truth of our circumstances until we have heard from God. God has
typically spoken to me clearest during my darkest days — when He has my
closest attention.
Fear is a great tool of the enemy. The devil can use circumstances
also to lead us away from God. This is where the Scripture and other
people you trust can help you discern.
Ask God to show you His perspective on the circumstances
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV)
As followers of God we will spend our whole life trying to discern
the will of God for our life; listening for His voice. If we desire to
hear from God through our circumstances we must intently listen for the
voice of God.
Hearing from God is not always easy. When life is coming at us we
cannot seem to understand what is going on, we shouldn’t be afraid to
ask for clarification. We should feel free to ask, “God what did you
mean by that?”
Many times I think I know what God is saying, but it’s in the seasons
of questioning that I am more intentional to go back to Him for
clarification. I’ve even taken days away to intentionally listen during
the confusing times.
Remember: God’s primary desire in speaking is for eternal purposes
We limit God to this finite world when we fail to remember He is an
infinite God. When we are trying to discern God’s voice through the
circumstances of life we should consider how what is happening around us
fits into God’s eternal plan to save a lost world from destruction and
to mold His children into the image of His Son.
God’s primary activity will be in these areas of our life. I’ve
always been able to see how God’s specific plan for me lined up with His
desire to invite a world to know Him. If what I sense He is asking me
to do would help people know Him or know Him better it is much easier to
recognize and affirm the voice of God in my circumstances.
Hearing from God is critical for the children of God to know God’s will for our life.
Our mission is to learn how to hear His voice. We must listen
intently and carefully for His voice through the crowd of noises in the
world in which we live. Thankfully God has not given up on us, but is
still speaking to His people today.
Are you in a season of trying to hear from God?
