Hearing God

I think when a lot of people think of listening to God they think of listening to some "still, small voice." Or they think of this audible voice that would come from above like in the story of Samuel. The funny thing is, there is a heckuva lot of people who try to hear GOd's voice and direction, but they don't even look at His Word. Since God will never speak contrary to His Word, to try to hear His voice without His Word is dangerous. Even if one is walking esp. close to God, it is very easy to be deceived. I was talking to a guy from a deliverance ministry, and he said that virtually everyone who TRULY pursues God, quits playing the games, and tries to obey Him in everything, becomes decieved on the matter of hearing His voice. I know it certainly happened to me when I finally got to that place. Thankfully, God lead me to Lighthouse (www.lighthouseministryintl.org) where I renounced this "voice of the Lord" and became free. Many people have the idea that the enemy is a roaring lion looking for who he may devour (note: on that passage, 1 Peter 5:8, it is not what most people think. Lions only roar in this context to try to instill fear in a prey that they could not take on their own. The devil can't take us so he tries to instill fear. Why do so many Christians fear evangelism? Why do so many Christians fear spiritual warfare? but I'm getting off topic). The enemy will counterfeit anything he can. He will try to counterfeit the works of the Lord. Look at 2 Corinthians 11:14-15. The enemy masquerades as an angel of light.

So what does "hearing from God look like." I would say a fundamental principle of hearing from God would be to meditate on His Word. Look at Psalm 1. Dwelling (meditating) on the law of the Lord day and night is key. WHATEVER HE DOES PROSPERS! All these people try to chase after prosperity in all of these ways but they fail to understand that prosperity has a lot more to do with ruminating on God's Word than throwing money at good causes (well, I would say that tithing is a critical step in prosperity, but that would be a different discussion). Look at Joshua 1:8. IT COULDN'T BE MORE CLEAR! "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Look at the order. Dwell on God's Word constantly, THAN you will be prosperous and successful. People chase the latter and ask God to do the latter for them, but refuse to do the steps that God orders. How can God bless those who are unwilling to do what He says to be blessed? How does a person expect to be full without eating? Is praying for fullness going to take care of the need?

Back to my favorite verse: John 8:32 And you shall know [as in the Biblical word for sex (hmm, I wonder if the firewall at school will stop me from getting to my blog) it is knowing THAT closely] the truth and the truth will set you free. If God's Word is the source of truth, than dwelling on His Word is essential to freedom from the wrong things that "can so easily entangle."