LISTENING TO GOD

THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 2012
LISTENING TO GOD
by David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 – April 27, 2011]

Most Christians don't listen to God. They go to Him only to talk! Yet the Scriptures reveal that any person who was ever used of God learned to remain in His presence until hearing from Him.

Scripture makes it clear that the Lord wants to talk to every one of us: "And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left" (Isaiah 30:21).

I heard of a little girl suffering from leukemia who was struggling with the thought of dying. One morning when her mother came into her room, the girl was all aglow and happy. "What has happened to you?" her mother asked.

The little girl answered, "An angel came to me and said I was going on a trip. God came and took my hand and walked with me through a beautiful garden. He told me, 'You're coming here tomorrow to be with Me.'"

God spoke to that little child and took all the pain and fear from her heart. When she left to be with Him the next day, she had total peace.

When you are intimate with Jesus, do you receive direction from Him? Does He tell you what to do and when and how to do it? Some Christians don't believe God does this but Jesus says, "My sheep hear my voice . . . and they follow me" (John 10:27).

In your trial, get alone with Jesus and cry, "Lord, You're the only One who can help me. Only You know the way through this trial, so I'm going to stay here till You tell me what to do."

This is the kind of praying that is pleasing to God. It means stopping everything, all activity. Only then will you hear Him speak clearly to your heart: "You must make things right with this person." Or, "Just stand still till next week. Don't get in a hurry. Sit in My presence and trust Me." He will give you clear directions.

I read this this morning in email and yet it provokes me to ask something that isn't there. Listening to God-doesn't that require being quiet? And when you read devotionals on this you always find the writer simulating the prayer person speaking to God rather than being quiet. I wonder why writers don't describe how Christians can be quiet in their prayer closet and just listen?

Just a thought.

Hi DeadN,

To me, it's not necessary "being quiet" such as no noise. It is an inward posture. It is being quiet in my spirit. I can work and hear God if I am listening inside. If my posture is one of being attentive to Him. "Speak Lord, thy Servant is listening".

But, I do love how "obedient" in Phil 2:8 is actually "Listening".

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

G5255
ὑπήκοος
hupēkoos
hoop-ay'-ko-os
From G5219; attentively listening, that is, (by implication) submissive: - obedient.

That was a revelation that really helped me. We listen to the Spirit, we walk by the Spirit and we obey what we hear the Spirit telling us.

Even in this verse in the OT,
Pro 7:24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

the Hebrew is:
shâma‛ (Like Shama Israel) Hear O Israel!
shaw-mah'
A primitive root; TO HEAR INTELLIGENTLY (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively to tell, etc.): -

This is something to think about.

Also, "Be still and know that I am God" is not about not moving physically at all and just trying to be like a manikin. That is not what it means to me. To me it is to be still from your your own works and possibly fleshly activity in this situation that is more than you can handle and know that I am God. I am an ever present help to you. Look to Me and not yourself. Turn to Me in all things.

Thanks for bringing this up, it is a good reminder to me.

Pilgrim

this is very helpful advice

thank you for sharing this

Thank you Pilgram for this awesome reply to explain listening to God.

It is hard for me to explain. But for me the Holy Spirit speaks through peace & unrest to me. Like you said, we must be still in ourselves & in relationship with Him to hear.

We need the Word and the Spirit. The Word is God speaking and the Spirit is guiding us. Example. Go into all the world and preach the Gospel. That is God speaking to us in the Bible. But we dont run out and get a passport and run around with no direction from the Lord. It is the Holy Spirit who will tell us where to go, what to do and say. It may be in our families, or our towns etc.

I asked the Lord "What Next" one time after my parents passed within 6 months of each other. I asked and instantly the Holy Spirit put in me. "I will let you know, I have a surprise for you." I was so excited as I knew I was hearing from the Lord. And oh, what an awesome surprise it was too. I had no idea nor thought of this wonderful thing that was to take place. He orchestrated it all so beautifully & perfectly. All glory to Him.

I think to the more I get rid of worldly things and thinking my mind is not so cluttered and my mind is more upon Him and able to hear Him more.