Listening to God
Listening to God
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim. 3:16–17)
God Is Not Silent
Part of the reason we don’t always hear from God is that we don’t always put enough stock in the primary way He communicates with us—through His written Word, the Bible. Many times we’re looking for something more, some “personal word” that circumvents the hard work of actually listening to what God says in the Bible and wrestling with the implications of it.
That’s not to say that God doesn’t speak in other ways—through circumstances, through the counsel of others, even through a strong inner sense or prompting, directing us to say or do something. It’s just that listening to what God says in the Bible should be first and foremost in our lives. In fact, when we’re steeped in the Bible, when we’re listening to God that way, we’re much more able to hear Him speak in other ways.
The Spirit and the Word
The Holy Spirit and the Word always go together. When we have God’s Word in us, the Holy Spirit has something to work with. He can bring to remembrance just the right Scripture at just the right time. This is how God speaks. This is how He guides us. This is how our relationship with Him grows.
Bottom Line
God speaks to us through His Word. Are you taking time to listen? Do you read the Word with a sense of anticipation? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you listen.