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Listening For God

Letter To A Friend On How To Listen To God

We are good at asking God for things. The answer is not always quick in coming though. So what do we do? Our depravity would tell us to give up, consider the matter hopeless, and try to make as good of a decision for ourselves as possible. Waiting for the answer, it seems, may be the hardest part of our relationship with God.

An all-inclusive answer on how to listen to God would take up much time and much space. Already, I have dwelt on this subject for three weeks. My friend needed an answer, from me as well as from God, this is a little of what I gave to her.

Psalm 4 describes the communicative relationship between man and God. The end of verse three says "The Lord hears when I call to Him." This much is for sure, but what to do when the answer from God tarries? Verse four continues, "Tremble and do not sin". That is, wait in fear of the Lord, depending on Him and not with the attitude of a "double-minded man" (James 1:6-7) – for that will accomplish nothing. But in reverence, not rushing into self-reliance.

Verse four continues, "Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still." I understand this to mean that the Christian is to have God’s Word committed to their memory and in the still of the night, when there is no other sound- while we seek for answers- we are to let God’s Scriptures saturate our thoughts. This gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to mold and conform our mind to be like His, and in this we will gain understanding of God’s Word from which our answer comes.

Verse five goes on with the phrase "Offer the sacrifices of righteousness." Coupled with the phrase "and do not sin" from verse four draws us closer to understanding the psalmist. While we are waiting for God to answer our prayers, we need to make the most of the opportunity by getting rid of (sacrificing) everything in our life that would keep us from drawing near to God. This may cost us, but the pleasure of God’s presence should hearken us to sell all that we own to buy this "pearl of great price."

Verse five ends with "and trust in the Lord." This is the same as "and be still" in verse four. Our stillness is our trusting. To fret and scheme means that we are waiting on God to disappoint us. Stillness, is faith that the God who promised will come through for us, for our good, and for His glory.

I hope this helps and I pray that we would all be strengthened in our faith as we wait on God and listen for His voice.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Such a good word, but oh so tough! I'm so good at fretting and scheming, and so bad at being still. God is teaching me to trust and rest and WAIT.
10:35 PM
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