The voice of God came to Jesus at all the great moments of His life. It came at His
baptism, when He began the work that God gave Him to do (Mark 1:11). It came on the Mount of Transfiguration, as He again
affirmed taking the way that led to Jerusalem and the cross (Mark 9:7); and it came when the human part
of Him needed the strength of the Father to face the ordeal of the cross (John 12:27-34). What God did for Jesus, He does
for every man.
If you have a hard time hearing God's voice, you may be in trouble at the very heart
of your Christian experience. Remember, the problem is not that He doesn't speak but that we, for whatever reason, have trouble
listening.
Don't go for the quick fix. There's not a method to follow. Your relationship with
God is the key to hearing when God speaks to you. The object of prayer is intimacy with God, not quick answers. Over time
you will know His voice. The sheep know the shepherd's voice because they spend time with him.
Don't ask unless you're willing to accept God's answers. Don't ask for guidance unless
you are prepared to act on it and have a desire to know and do all the will of God. He is always willing to make His purpose
known, but He will not show you His will if you are merely considering doing it.
Don't expect God to shout. Quiet is essential to effective listening. You can't jam
your mind with carnal influences 12 hours a day and expect God to reveal His plans to you during a commercial. Be still, and
know that I am God (Ps. 46:10).
Watch out for a plug in the line. If you are passively or openly rebelling against
God in some area of your life, you are putting a plug in the pipeline God uses to deliver His messages. Unconfessed sin is
a major plug. Your iniquities have separated you from your God, your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not
hear (Is. 59:2).
Be willing to be God's fool. God gave us common sense and He expects us to use it.
Most of the time, His will makes sense to our reason and intelligence, but not always. Sometimes His direction cuts across
all human reason, and even goes totally contrary to it. When the inner voice of God speaks clearly, obedience may be counted
as madness in the eyes of the world. But if you are willing to be God's fool, then you will see His power.
Feel the balance between God and the Bible. God's guidance will never go against scriptural
principle. The Bible is a record of God's revelation of Himself to man. His will is expressly revealed in His Word. If you
look to the Spirit alone for guidance - without the Word - you can open yourself up for possible deception. If you look to
circumstances alone - without the Word - you can be deceived. You can't see the agreement if you have no time for prayer and
Bible study and the only advice you're getting is from nonbelievers.
Taken
from Choosing God's Best by Don Raunikar. Copyright (c) 1998.
