Wednesday, March 26, 2008

listening for God's voice

Yesterday in our "devotions" in Psalm 23, we were on the verse:
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

Our discussion on that was good for me, hearing from brothers speaking from their hearts. And learning more about myself and how I can come across from one brother, prior to that, was good for me, even if I have my own thoughts on all of that. In everything I want to be listening for God's voice. What God is saying to me through whatever it is I'm going through in my life, including and maybe especially in the dark places. But really, everywhere and all the time.

To have ears to hear, I must set myself to listen. To do so, I must be in Scripture and in prayer. And in fellowship with all of God's people. And with a heart set on obeying God, which includes repentance and confession of sin along the way, of course. And I must be open to hearing God's voice in unlikely places. Even when what may be said and done may go against me, and be unjust at least to some extent.

Of course this needs to be a daily, ongoing practice and posture of our hearts before God, in Jesus, in all of life. To get past whatever else may be there so that we can truly hear God's voice.

What about you? What have you learned in this, or what might you add here?

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Confession is critical. Not only to GOD but too each other.

We also need to take time and just stop and listen.

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

i am so thankful to God that God is everywhere in all time.

i am thankful that the Lord is my master and my savior.

i am thankful that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is giving me true Life. God Life.

God is here with me and there with you. always. God will not leave us. and for that i am very thankful to Him.

but, when we see God...do we all see something different? i am startine to believe that we can really see Him with our heart and soul. He is making every moment happen and is in it with us. we can know that he is with us in every created bit of time that we exist in. in us, through us, around us, creating everything. God gives us life different than we had before we gave our dead lives to gain GOD LIFE. and when we listen and look WITH OUR HEART AND SOUL we can SEE IT. GOD LIFE. a wonderful all encompasing all around at all time all GOD LIFE. IT IS OURS.

we can look and listen all the time. God is life and we can listen in all we see and do.

that said, i agree that reading scripture is very important because it is the LIVING word of God. it speaks to our INNER MOST BEING...OUR HEART AND SOUL.

GOD SPEAKS TO OUR HEART AND SOUL...in His word and in all things around us...for He is the great Creator and God.

Our Heart
can hear HIM
down to our
very Soul
He is in us

we talk to Him of
our thoughts
our feelings
of our HEART
in every moment
we can rejoice or repent

God is in all places
likely and unlikely
painful and joyous
IN US.

it is to amazing for my mind
but my heart understands
my heart knows and sees. GOD LIFE.
GOD MAKES ME LIVE
MAKES ME TO LIVE GOD LIFE
HE GIVES ME HIS GOD LIFE WITH HIM
IT IS A NEW LIFE
LIFE
REAL TRUE LIVING LIFE
WE START TO LIVE HERE
AND CONTINUE TO LIVE FOREVER

Matthew said...

This is a great post. Thank you for the blessing it gave me.

preacherman said...

I agree with Nancy.
It is wonderful that God is everywhere all the time.
I love your post brother.
You did a fantastic job.
It is so encouraging.
Keep up the wonderful posts.
Your blog has helped my faith in many ways.
In Him,
Kinney Mabry

L.L. Barkat said...

I like the idea that God speaks in unexpected places. Maybe that helps us be more ready to hear?

Ted M. Gossard said...

Mike,
As always, thanks. Good thoughts.

I think confession among ourselves- to each other is largely a lost art. It is not taken seriously, for the most part, I'm afraid. We're not set to do it. A great loss, indeed.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Thanks, Nancy for the good thoughts and expression of your faith. That we partake of the very life of God, partakers of the divine nature (1 Peter), quite wonderful. And begins now, of course.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Matthew,
Thanks so much. I'm going to have to get on your blog, soon.

Ted M. Gossard said...

Kinney,
You're a most generous and great encourager. You remind me of another man of God, Bill Hesse, a Barnabas.

Thanks, brother.

Ted M. Gossard said...

L.L.,
Yes, I think it can. I was thinking about that myself.

Is your book out? As soon as it is, I'll get it! I need to check at Amazon.

It is out!!! I'll order it very soon and let you know, and will post on it. I'm excited.

Here's the link.

The Walk said...

Thank you for your post. Sometimes it seems like God shows up especially in those unexpected places, that He surprises us and will not be put into a box. And confession is so important too. It clears up our ears to hear Him. Also, it is only within the context of recognizing who we are as imperfect, broken creatures that we are able to recognize who He is--perfect and holy. Apart from this, we are living in an imaginary world, a false reality.

Ted M. Gossard said...

The Walk,
Thanks for your good and helpful words. So very true.

And I like the thought of the imaginary world we live in versus reality found in God.