Listening to God

By: Donovan Parker

So I read something that said prayer isn't always about talking, but sometimes about learning to listen to God.

I know I can do a better job of learning to pause and be sensitive to what God is telling me.  Many times we only go to God in prayer to SAY .. thank you, or to ASK .. 

The Bible says much about being able to go to God with concerns and asking of Him ..

But how important is listening to God?  Here's why listening is more important than talking ...

Matthew 4:4 says

"It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

This tells us that we need to be able to listen to God for life! One of the ways we can do this is by staying in our Bibles and reading His written Word.  

Romans 10:17 

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Not only does listening benefit our life, but it also increases our faith!

That's two reasons WHY it's important to listen to God, but how do we become more sensitive to the other things of God in addition to His Word?

1 Corinthians 2:9-14 tells us that

the Holy Spirit is what reveals to us the things of God.  Since God is not a man, we can't understand Him as one! How many times do we try to make sense of God with our logic!?Won't work!! The Holy Spirit is what God equipped us with to listen to Him and understand His ways!

"What you put in, is what you'll get out .."  

In other words, as you go throughout life you have to somewhat make room for the Holy Spirit.  You can't comfortably put something into a space w/limited capabilities without making room for it.

As you make the Holy Spirit comfortable IN you, the more sensitive you become to the things of God.

I challenge YOU to make more room for the Holy Spirit! Clean house. Make Him comfortable IN you! Get into your Word more and make your body, mind, spirit inhabitable for Him!  It will be your life, and your faith will grow!

Prayer:

Dear Lord,

Thank You for equipping us with everything we need to "hear" from you.  Help us to become more sensitive to You and Your ways as we grow toward You.  We thank You for the great things You have in store for us and pray we learn to listen to You for the fulfillment of Your will. Thank You for Your help and Your love.  Speak to us MORE and show us how to listen to what You're saying.

In Jesus' Name,

AMEN