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listening to God is a must



Proverbs 1:7  NASB
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

We have all had a particular problem from time to time.  Maybe it was a problem we have chosen, or maybe this was a literal health problem.  It is about hearing.  Some people do have a genuine problem being able to hear while others have selective hearing; they hear only what they want to hear.

This is a true and very real problem with people of faith.  Living by faith isn’t easy.  Therefore, we may miss or not try to hear God.  Maybe our experiences have led us to cut ourselves off.  Or maybe we are cold because of our sin.  Maybe we are dealing with shame or fear or massive amounts of guilt.

Whatever the case, we need to hear from God.  God loves us.  Right?  God has a plan for our lives.  Right?  But if we are not listening we will not be reassured of His love and will not hear His awesome plan for our lives.

If we don’t know where we are going or why we are going, we are in trouble.  Life will have many more obstacles and traps.  But what happens when we know things, when we know where we are headed, we can get there.

We have promises from God.  We have purpose from God.  By listening to God we will find those promised and that direction. 

Listening to God is one of the first things we have to do to go the direction God has for us.  We do not serve a dictator or a puppet master that makes us do all He wants.  No, we serve our gracious God who is willing and wants to bless and direct His children. 

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.

God is speaking today.  He spoke in years gone by, all the way back to the beginning of creation.  He used the prophets and ways that were evident of His presence coming on people and moving away.

Today God speaks to us through His son, Jesus.  Jesus is our way and is the truth (see John 14:6), and Jesus speaks through many different avenues that lead us back to Him using the Bible, His word to us, and so much more.  As we listen to and respond to Jesus we are refreshed.

Acts 3:19  NASB
Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;

Are we listening?  God is always speaking.  We have a choice to listen, follow, receive blessings from our God.

Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you.

May our lives show that we have been with God, we have heard His voice and responded in love to God that we have come to know and trust.  Faith dispels fear.  Confidence comes for us to live and help others live for God.

Hebrews 11:1  NASB
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

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