Hearing From God (part 3)

By Dr. Greg Wiens

Have you ever noticed how it is sometimes easier for you to see what God is saying to others than it is to hear what he is saying to you? I have a friend who is a pastor of a large church with a secure position with influence and prestige. However, now after ten years he has an offer to pursue a position with another organization, which will require him to relocate, raise support, and start a new ministry. He is torn as he prays through and seeks God's wisdom and guidance on whether to accept this new position. To me, God has created him for this new position. More than that, God has been preparing him for this new position his whole life! His gifts, experience, passions suit him perfectly for this move. So why is he struggling with the decision?

Like all of us, he has conflicted interests in the decision. He has other interests that need to be considered...like what if he can't raise the money, what if the ministry doesn't take off, what about leaving some family behind, and other critical issues. From the outside (i.e. my perspective), these issues aren't as important because I don't "feel" the fears, concerns and emotions associated with those issues. So what seems obvious to me just isn't as clear to him.

These are issues that must be wrestled through. I am confident that as he continues to wrestle with God in this, God will affirm his presence, protection and provision in this new endeavor. I have walked with this friend for 33 years. We have prayed through our marriages, our children and every ministry move in our lives; we have grown up together. Because of this history, I know him well. One of the ways that God speaks to each of us is through another person who is not as emotionally invested. Do you have a friend that is as close to you as a brother? Do you have someone who can speak God's truth (and grace) into your life?

I would recommend a website that is a great resource for hearing from God: www.Godstillspeaks.org. The premise of this website is that if you want to hear from God, you must be receptive to hearing from him first. There are tools and resources to put you in a position to hear from God. This author shares four stages in learning to be reception:

1. Soften

2. Center

3. Listen

4. Respond

We need to Soften our hearts toward God in order to listen to him. We find throughout scripture that a hardened heart causes people to miss God’s desire for their lives. What hardens a heart? We find that sin and separation are what hardens our heart. In Psalm 95.7b-8a we read, “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…” (NIV) Therefore in order to soften your heart, you must seek to live a life holy and pleasing to him.

We Center our lives on God through a variety of practices that keep our mind focused on things above. Through taking time throughout the day to center our hearts and our minds on his who HE is and what He has to say to us. No doubt this includes meditation on his word, worship of God and reflection on his creation, but it can also include so much more. Bro. Lawrence in Practicing the Presence practiced centering on God’s message even while he was doing the dishes.

We Listen to God through many of the ways that we have talked about these past few articles (you can go to our resource page to download them).

Finally, the goal is not to simply listen but to obey; that is to Respond. Obedience is better than sacrifice (in other words, obedience is better than going through the motions of worship…see 1 Samuel 15.22).

The ironic aspect of this cycle is that the more you obey, the softer your heart becomes and the more you are able to hear God speak to you.

Often, we only are concerned about listening to God in the midst of a crises or when a major life decision needs to be made. Let me suggest that the lifestyle of listening to God is the best way to prepare for hearing from God in the midst of a crisis or a strategic decision. As you develop these four habits as a natural part of your life, you will begin to hear God speak into your life as an ebb and flow of living.