Our men’s group is working through Bill Hybels’ book, The Power of the Whisper. In the second chapter, Hybels, highlights many of the people in the Bible whom God spoke to. As I read through all those people my mind shifted to think about how noisy life is. I also thought about times in my life that I knew I have heard from the Lord.

I know in our culture, especially for non-believers but even for Christians the idea that God can talk to us is bizarre. The only time we hear about God talking to someone is after they killed 10 people and said, “God told me to do it!”

But, God is alive and He is a communicator. The main reason Jesus came to earth was so to pay for all the crud that gets between God and us, so we could return to an open relationship with Him that will last forever.

My sheep hear my voice and follow me, Jesus said. I believe hearing from God is the heart of being a Christian. I have only heard from God in two general circumstances of life. One of those times is when I am not surrendered and need corrected or drawn back. For me, those times were never a threatening message but a love filled message to show me what I’m missing.

The second circumstance, and the one that is available to all those who have been made right with God through faith in Jesus Christ, is when I am surrendered. When Jesus isn’t just Part of my life but rather He IS my life. When He is my life the communication is frequent and amazing. It comes in promptings to serve others, it comes as an insight into a deep truth or it comes as clarity to an issue I’m needing wisdom to solve.

Finally, the way I know the communication is from God is it will always be true to Scripture and it blesses me or others. Ultimately, being a Christian is being in relationship with God, hearing from him on a consistent basis and doing what He prompts us to do. The church is simply a group of people banded together to hear from and carry out what God directs us to accomplish.

When I am not hearing from the Lord, it is a warning to me, I’ve moved Jesus to the fringes and He is only a small part of my life. Surrendering and opening myself to do His will, opens the lines of communication to hear from Him again.

How complicated I can make this simple truth.

Blessings,

Scott