4 Ways to Hear God’s Voice
We are about to move from South Carolina to Maryland! Wow! We are excited! But this move is even more than a location change. It’s a complete life change for my husband and myself. Reen explains in a letter he wrote to friends:
Linda and I write to invite you to join us on an incredible journey. Today’s sermon at our church was entitled, “Moving from the Expected to Unexpected,” and that is our story today! Having ministered to others through marketplace ministry for many years, when in November I began to hear a clear-cut, urgent call to seek a full-time pastoral position. This call awakened me many nights and I responded with arm raised, repeating Isaiah’s words, “Here am I, Lord, send me.”( Isaiah 6:8)
After much prayer and discussion with Linda, I believe God is calling me to this, “For such a time as this,” (Esther 4:14) to build up the local church during these difficult times in our nation. What is even more amazing is that the first position I encountered in the first week of January was in the area in which I lived and worked for 40 years! Long had I hoped and prayed that God would send a spiritual revival to this area, and little did I realize that He would lead me back home to be part of His answer to my prayer! (Even more interesting is that the day after I sent this response off, our landlord informed us that our lease ends on 2/29 and would not be renewed because the owner is selling the condo. So it confirmed we are moving somewhere!)
For years God has been preparing me for full-time ministry. Having earned a master’s degree in Christian Counseling, demonstrating a long background in ministry in the workplace, and receiving endorsements from numerous pastors as well as the advice of others, when this Maryland pastor received my response to his open position, he responded within 24 hours. These last weeks included a 4-step process…phone interview, written application, another Skype phone interview and finally a site visit.
For many years I considered full-time vocational ministry but it was not until now that God confirmed His will and direction, clearing the way and making the path straight, that we know it is time to move forward. He has given me a supernatural peace that He is in charge and I can trust Him. We rejoice that “no purposes of God can be thwarted” ( Job 42:2) and He fulfills His plans and purposes for our lives if we will only trust Him and His timing in everything!
So life is taking a dramatic change again! This month, let’s look at the four ways Reen was able to hear the voice of God which shows us, too, how to identify God’s will in our lives. There are four ways we hear God’s voice:
The first is:
- God Speaks through His Written Word- God made sure His character and ways of working in our world were recorded by men moved by His Holy Spirit, so that for all time we can clearly hear the voice of God. As we are told in the Bible, God’s Word is a living, active thing. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) God spoke His Word to Reen’s mind even in the night reminding him of Isaiah’s and Esther’s experiences.
So as you pursue “Your Refreshed Life” in 2020 be ready for change and transition to take shape in many forms. Know God wants you to know His will for each day of your life and He stands ready to reveal it to you. Remain alert and look for His faithful hand directing and guiding you in His love. The first way to do this is to spend time in His Word, allowing His Spirit to apply His Word to your life and situation.
Next week we’ll look at two more ways we can hear the voice of God!
