In Touch - August 26, 2005
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- Published Aug 23, 2005
In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley
Friday August 26, 2005
How to Listen to God
Communicating with the Lord involves both speaking and listening. Most of us are better at talking. But God intends for His children to hear His voice. His goal is the same today as it always has been — to be certain that we comprehend the truth about Him, to conform us to His ways, and to equip us for communicating His truth to others.
Two of the instruments the Lord uses to speak to modern-day believers are His Word and other people. For this reason, studying the Bible is more important than getting breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day. We can easily live on one daily meal, but we cannot survive in this wicked world unless we feast on God’s Word. The result of our regular consumption of Scripture is a discerning spirit. When a Christian shares a message that God laid on his heart for us, our spirit verifies the truth of his statement.
Regardless of how loudly God speaks, we won’t hear Him unless listening is a priority. We must ask Him to teach us to hear and then work at having a quiet attitude. An internal “receiver” tuned to the Father develops only through committed prayer, meditation, and practice at listening. In addition, we will need a spirit of submission to obey the commands He gives.
God’s goal for us is a lifestyle of sensitivity so we can hear Him in noisy or calm situations. Listening to Him is a critical skill for ensuring that our hearts are open to divine guidance in every circumstance. The dessert for our feast of Scripture is the sound of a Father’s voice.
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Come hear Dr. Stanley at The Extraordinary Life Rallies this October in