Waiting on God – Hearing His Voice
The willingness to obey every word from God is critical to hearing God speak. Henry T. Blackaby,
Waiting on God to intervene in the challenges in our lives can sometimes be an excruciating intermezzo. But could it be that this intermezzo is God wooing us into the “secret place” to meet with Him so that we can hear what He wants to share with us? I find it amazing that the God who created the universe wants to share His heart with us. The creator of the universe invites us to “the secret place” so that we can dine with Him at His banqueting table and enjoy the finest food that costs us nothing. It’s free if we are willing to accept His invitation (Isaiah 55:1-3). When we accept this invitation, we come with our hearts and minds primed so that our spiritual ears are able to listen diligently to what He wants to share with us. Our hearts and minds are primed when we engage with the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus calls the Spirit of truth and who lives in us (John 14:15-17). When we live by the Spirit, we live for Christ. We crucify the flesh and its carnal desires (Galatians 5:24-25). As we do this, we will hear the truth that God wants to share with us while we wait for Him to intervene in our situation. This truth can come through Scripture or through a direct Word from God.
Obedience to His Voice
But the Lord doesn’t only want us to hear what He says, but also be obedient to what He asks us to do. Isaiah 55:3 (NLT) says, “Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life.” This is indeed what we will find – His abundant life when we are obedient to His Word and honour what He calls us to do. But we are often afraid that what we hear God saying won’t align with our idea of how God should answer our prayers. Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT) says,
“’My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the Lord. ’And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’”
The agony of waiting can stunt our capacity to understand God’s omniscience and the reality of who God is – an all-powerful, faithful and loving God who only has the best for us.
If we hurry into the holy without preparing our hearts, we will see things not as they are but as we are. Pete Greig,
Reflection
Will you accept Jesus’ invitation to come to His banqueting table so that He can share with you what is on His heart for your life? Take time to think about the things in your life that are preventing you from walking in step with the Holy Spirit.
Prayer
Dear Lord, I accept Your invitation to come and sit with You at Your banqueting table. I come to You not only with my petitions, but to hear what’s on Your heart for my life. As I wait for You to intervene in my situation, help me to incline my ear to You so that I will not only hear what You want to say to me, but also be obedient to Your voice. Thank You, Lord, that I can trust You to give me only what will be best for me in my situation. In Jesus’ name, amen.
