Posted in Bible study/prayer journal

This is from Lysa Terkeurst's book What Happens When Women Say Yes to God.

   Lysa says....

When God is speaking to me about a particular issue, I cannot escape it.  Around every corner there is a sermon or Bible study lesson or speaker's topic or conversation with a friend that is consistent with what I've been hearing from God in my time alone with Him.

 Think about having a conversation with another person.  You both speak and you both listen.  The same is true with our conversations with the Lord when we're one-on-one with Him.  We shouldn't be doing all the talking.  God wants us to pour out our hearts to Him, and then He wants to respond to us.  Jesus shared this parable:

The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice.  He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.  (John 10:3-4)

 Now let's read this verse with some clarifying remarks added in:

The watchman [Jesus] opens the gate [a way for us to have direct communication with God] for him, and the sheep [you and I] listen to his voice.  He [God] calls his own sheep by name [He speaks to us personally] and leads them out [providing us with direction].  When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice [they know his voice because they have spent time with him].  John 10:3-4

 Jesus is the one who provides a way for us to be able to talk with God and hear from God.  God calls us by name.  He wants to have a personal connection with each of us.  Think about when you call someone's name.  You know that person.  You are calling on them so the two of you can connect in some way.  This verse is telling us that the way God wants to connect with us is to provide direction for us in life.  He has gone before us and sees the dangers and trials we will face.  He is telling us the way to go, the perspectives to keep, the things to avoid, and the things to hold fast to.  Most of all He is speaking to us because we are His own and He wants a relationship with us.  He loves us, adores us, treasures us, and has a good plan for us.  He longs for us to know His voice and listen to His voice.  The only way to know and trust God in this way is to spend time with Him.

 When we invest in spending time alone with God, He will speak to us, and what we hear from Him in these quiet times will be echoed in other places.  Listen for God's voice and then look for the message to be confirmed.

 Is God speaking to you?  Are you listening?