Walking and Talking With God (Part I)

I’ve always been freaked out to hear someone say “God told me to ___________”. In my upbringing, God spoke to people like Abraham, Moses, Noah and Jesus, not people like me. It gets more weird when someone says “God told me to tell you ___________.” Does God not know how to reach me directly?

But over these years of following Christ, I’ve learned that God does speak to us. Not audibly (at least not to me) but in our thoughts. In that “still small voice” described in 1 Kings 19:12. Most of the times He’s spoken to me, it’s been about matters of the heart. About how to respond to someone or something that matters to someone or to me.

I read this the other day (and you can substitute “I” for “man”) . . .

When man listens, God speaks.

When man obeys, God acts.

When God acts, men change.

But how do I know when it’s God who is ‘speaking’?

Loren Cunningham, Founder of Youth with a Mission, wrote in Daring to Live on the Edge . . .

“An impression in your spirit can only come from one of four sources: your own mind, the mind of others, the mind of Satan or the mind of God. Use the example of James 4:7 to silence Satan and take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). God has given you the authority to silence the other sources and clear the way to hear and know it is God speaking.”

Yeah, I know. A little freaky and uncomfortable talking to the devil and telling him to shut up. But it’s a tool God gave us. If we’re too smug, too sophisticated, too proud to take advantage of something so helpful, can we expect to hear from God anyway?

Here’s a sample ‘listening prayer’ . . .

Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus Christ, your son and according to James 1:5. I am seeking wisdom for ______________.

In the name of Jesus, according to Matthew 28:18 and Luke 10: 19:20 I take authority over Satan and his fallen angels and command that they be rendered deaf, dumb and blind to my prayers and removed from my presence. I place my own voice under subjection to the shed blood of Christ, according to 2 Corinthians 10:5, I ask Father that only your Holy Spirit will speak to me as I wait on your wisdom, insight and direction for ___________. What you show me and direct me to do I will quickly obey.

Then be very still and very quiet. As thoughts come, write them down. Yes, pray with a journal or a piece of paper and pen in your hand and write down what you ‘hear.’ You’ll get amazing clarity as you put words to paper. The thought becomes clear and you can usually tell if it’s something God would say. Then thank Him and put what He told you to do on your calendar. It’s the first step to obedience.

Where God guides, God provides. If we’ll act on His instruction . . . step out in faith and do what He leads us to do, He’ll provide the outcome. It may be different from what you want or expect, but you’ll have perfect peace because you obeyed. And over and over, He’s blown me away with His response to my response.

Question: Do you have enough faith and humility to ask God specific questions and then obey what He tells you? Share with us here.

You can read Part 2 here.