Hearing From God

(Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.) 1 Samuel 3:7

Samuel was a young boy serving under Eli, the high priest at the time. Samuel heard a voice calling out his name, while he was lying down. He immediately went to Eli and said, “Here I am, you called me.” Eli told Samuel that he did not speak to him and Samuel lied down again. This happened three times. After the third instance, Eli realized that God was speaking to the young boy. He said, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you , say, 'Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.'” Samuel obeyed, and this time, when the Lord spoke his name, Samuel replied as Eli instructed.

The Lord then revealed to him a word of judgment toward Eli, which included specific consequences that were to take place in the future. The Lord was angry with Eli for not restraining his unruly and wicked sons. Although Samuel was hesitant to relay the message to Eli, the high priest insisted that he recount the entire prophetic word to him. The pronouncement later came to pass and Samuel grew to be a great man of God.

In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit came upon a few select people. God primarily anointed kings, prophets, and priests for service. In the New Testament, each born again believer has the Holy Spirit living in him or her, and each of us can hear His voice. As a young believer, I desired greatly to hear the voice of the Lord. It took time and effort to discern His voice in my life. I often made mistakes along the journey. Over time, and with the help of solid Biblical instruction, I discovered a few things about hearing from God....

• God usually speaks in ways that are less dramatic
• He normally communicates to His children in a still small voice or by a spiritual impression
• He also gives us spiritual pictures or visions
• His communication comes to us spontaneously, as we worshipfully look to the Lord
• One important practice in receiving God's messages to us is to write down what we hear and see
• Jesus always speaks to us in a loving way, even when He corrects us
• The Holy Spirit will always agree with the written word of God
• When we obey the Holy Spirit, it keeps us sensitive to His leading
• When we consistently resist the Holy Spirit's promptings, we can grow deaf to his call
• It is good to be accountable to a mature believer, while discerning God's voice, especially when making major decisions
• After you have heard from God, check what you've heard or seen and make sure it lines up with Scripture
  

Much of what I've learned about hearing from God can be attributed to a book and course called Communion with God, written by Mark Virkler. I highly recommend this book! I am still on the journey to hear more and more clearly from the Lord, and I still make mistakes. But I have discovered that there is nothing more satisfying than drawing near to the Lord and allowing Him to speak to my heart. This is what intimacy with God is all about. His messages to us bring healing, encouragement, direction, and peace. I hope you will come along with me on this journey to hear and obey God's voice.

Praise

Though the cherry trees don't blossom and the strawberries don't ripen. Though the apples are worm-eaten and the wheat fields stunted, though the sheep pens are sheepless and the cattle barns empty, I'm singing joyful praise to God. I'm turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God. Counting on God's Rule to prevail. I take heart and gain strength. I run like a deer. I feel like I'm king of the mountain. (For congregational use, with a full orchestra.) Habbakuk 3:17-19 The Message

A man, woman, or child with eyes of faith see beyond what's before them. They look to the promises of God, even in the face of apparent lack. They have learned to praise God, when the days look dark and bleak. Praise is the language of strong belief.

We can praise Him for His promises, believing that He'll bring them to pass. When we worship God in the darkness, we invite the Lord to come and work on our behalf. The Scripture says that the Lord is enthroned on our praises. When we worship God in the midst of our trouble, the Lord sets up His throne in the middle of our chaos. He brings God's Rule on the scene. He restores, He heals, He provides, He comforts, and He minsters His grace to us.

Let's praise Jesus when things are going our way and when life is hard. Let's set our focus on the wonderful attributes of God and on the riches of His word. When we do, we will grow in intimacy with the One who made us and we will invite Him to work miracles in our lives. Let's learn to speak the language of praise. Let's put our trust in the God of Heaven. He will hear us, and He will help us in our time of need.

© Copyright 2010 by Tom Toya. All rights Reserved.

In Our Time of Need

In the midst of trial
In the middle of the hurricane
There is a hand of Love that reaches down

Trusting hearts receive Him
Hope still reigns
In hearts that choose Him
Our prayers are heard on high

Jesus is the Good Shepherd
He prepares a table in the center of the wilderness
Grace abounds
Holy waters flow

Victory rises from the ashes
With resurrection power
Thank you Lord for Your overcoming Presence
Thank you for visiting us in our time of need

© Copyright 2010 by Tom Toya. All rights reserved.

Discovering Who We Are

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3 Emphasis mine

In this world, we sometimes suffer through difficult days. It's at times like these that we need to discover God's perspective. It's during seasons of trial that we can draw near to the One who has chosen us. One of the ways we can find victory amidst negative circumstances is by focusing on who we are in Christ. God's word (especially in the New Testament epistles) has a great deal to say about how our Lord sees us.

The Scripture says that Jesus has already blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. All our needs are met in Him. When we abide in a loving relationship with God the Father, we do not lack anything. We can draw strength from the resources of heaven. We can come alive with the life of God that is already in us. The Lord will cause us to triumph if we'll put our trust in Him. If God has blessed us, and He has, we cannot fail.

This does not mean that we will float through life without experiencing trouble. No, the Lord will often allow us to go through difficulties, but He will also enable us to come out on the other side with a smile on our face and a spring in our step. When we meditate on who we are in Christ, we experience comfort and encouragement. When we speak out of our mouths the truths that God says about us, we find freedom and joy.

Often what we see in the word of God doesn't measure up to the picture we have of ourselves. But God's word is a mirror
(See James 1:22-25). The Bible shows us who we really are because of the blood of Christ. We truly are blessed even if we were laid off from work and we are struggling to find a job. We really are righteous
(See 2 Corinthians 5:21) even when we fall prey to some besetting sin. We are kings and priests (See 1 Peter 2:9) even when we feel defeated.

Jesus wants us to see ourselves from His perspective, He wants us to meditate on who we are in Christ, and He delights in us when we speak His word back to Him in thanksgiving for how He has remade us. Let's all search the Scriptures to find who we are in Christ. There are many treasures to uncover on the bottom of the ocean floor that is the word of God. We must be diligent to find them, and discoveries of this kind are more precious than a multitude of diamonds.

Gentle Nudges

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14

Today, I parked my car at my home on cold, early autumn day. There was nothing special about the day. My neighbor sat in his garage with his son. This too is rather ordinary. Chris and his family often spend time in their renovated garage that is attached to their house. Chris watched his son play, while I pulled in my driveway. Again, all this is rather uneventful, except for one thing....

As I glanced at my neighbors, I felt a certain stirring down in my heart. I could not mistake it; it was the gentle, but persistent nudging of the Holy Spirit. The Lord wanted me to witness to my neighbor about the goodness of God. At first I felt a little awkward. I had witnessed to him on one occasion, but no apparent fruit came of it. I pulled out a tract that I had written. I like to pass them out to waiters and grocery clerks. I simply let them know I'd like to give them something I have written as an encouragement to them. Most of these people thank me and receive the piece of paper, though occasionally a person will refuse to take it from me.

You might think that it would be easy to talk to my neighbor. After all I actively share my faith on a regular basis - at least with a tract in hand. However, I am not an extrovert, and at times I have to fight my fears. But I obediently walked over to my neighbor and asked him if I could give him the tract. I told him that I wrote it and I explained that God had made a difference in my life, my wife's life, and in the lives of many people I know. I shared with him that serving the Lord is not about obeying a set of rules. Instead, God is looking to have a relationship with us. I also explained that the Lord can help him with his marriage, in raising his children, and in every part of his life.

Chris thanked me and said he would read the tract. I said, “If you every have any questions about these kind of things, please let me know.” That ended our brief encounter. Now I will continue to pray for my friend and look for ways to intentionally engage him further in conversation, if he is open.

This all came about as I listened to the Holy Spirit's gentle stirrings. Those of us who know the Savior are called sons of God. We are all able to be led by the Spirit. Let's stay sensitive. God is not looking for spiritual giants; He is searching for ordinary people with hearts and lives that are available to His call. If we will take the time to listen, there's no telling what God will use us to do for His glory.

Dear Lord,

Help me to be sensitive to Your Holy Spirit's voice. Help me not to crowd Him out with busyness and my own desires. Lord, fill me with Your Spirit. Give me ears to hear You and eyes to see You, and Lord please give me a heart to obey Your gentle promptings so You can use me to reach a world that needs You so desperately.

For the Prodigal

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:11-12

It doesn't matter how many times you've fallen into that same sin. It doesn't matter what you've done or how far you've run from home. God your gracious Father is waiting for you. He is ready to embrace you – to forgive you of all your sin.

You weren't made to carry that heavy load of guilt and pain. The Lord wants to invade your life with kindness. He wants to shower you in mercy. If you are His prodigal child, won't you come home? Your Father will restore you to your rightful place in Christ. Don't you know that Jesus blood has paid for your complete forgiveness?
1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (italics mine).”

God's love for you is unwavering, relentless, extravagant. He would do anything to bring you back. The Scripture says that God is married to the backslider. He has not given up on you. Why don't you turn your eyes to Jesus and pray with tears of repentance. God will forgive you. He still has awesome plans for your life. If you turn to Him, you'll find your future is as bright as the noonday sun.

Dear Father God,

I am sorry for turning my back on You. I'm sorry for allowing myself to drift so far away from home. Lord, please forgive me. Please take me back. I receive Your forgiveness. I receive Your mercy. I choose to follow You once again with your help and the help of the body of Christ. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Laying Our Desires on the Alter

“Father if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42

Abraham and Sarah had a strong desire for a son. But there was one problem, both Abraham and Sarah had advanced beyond the normal age for procreation. However, God promised Abraham that he would have a son. The Lord even called him a father of many nations. After many years, the day did come when the beloved promise came to pass. They named their son Isaac, and all was well in the lives of Abraham and Sarah.

Then one day God spoke to Abraham and told him to take his son Isaac to the top of a mountain in the land of Moriah, and offer him as a burnt offering to the Lord. Abraham obeyed believing God could restore the life of his son.

When Abraham reached the top of the mountain he bound up his son and laid him upon an alter. When he raised a knife to kill Isaac, God spoke. “Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son.”
In this true story, God tested Abraham, and Abraham passed the test. His desire to obey God was greater than his love for his child. He is called in the Scriptures the father of faith and a friend of God. When we have dreams and desires that we believe are from the Lord, it is natural and fitting for us to ask God to give us those things. Perhaps you have your heart set on serving in a particular vocation or maybe you are asking the Lord to heal you physically.

God does not always give us what we want right away. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years before Isaac came along. There are also times when what we desire is not the ultimate best for us according to God's will. Jesus prayed, “Father if it is Your will take this cup away from me...” Christ was talking to the Father about going to the cross. Even though Jesus asked for another way, the Father led Him to His death upon the cross.

We must be willing to place our dreams and desires on the alter. Sometimes God will give us those things and sometimes He does not. It is at these times when we must bow before the Sovereign will of our Maker knowing that He sees everything and He knows what is ultimately the best for our lives. Whatever He decides, we must always strive to place our love for and obedience to God above our desire for other things no matter how noble they may seem. It is important that we not let the thing we long for to become an idol in our hearts. When we surrender these desires to the Lord, He will bless us and give us His peace.

There is a time to lay hold of God's promises with unwavering faith, and there is a time to surrender to God's perfect will. Our trust is to be in the faithful character of our loving Heavenly Father. He will always take good care of us; He always has our best interests at heart.

Dear Father God,

Thank you for Your many promises to me. Lord, I ask that You would move in my life and do great things. Help me to always keep my love for you above any other desire I have. If there are any idols in my heart, Lord, please show me. I surrender all I am to You. Have Your way in me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.