My prayer today is that the Lord will open our hearts to hear him.
In view of the world crisis, pandemic, economic downturn, and moral bankruptcy all around we will be considering another perspective of listening…
Listening to God
There are many voices around us. Many of these voices are choking us. In order that we may have our sanity and peace amidst the tempest around we need to learn to listen deeply to the voice of God.
Why do we need to listen to God?
1. Only God knows us.
- Everybody’s attempt to define us is limited. Even you do not know who you’re and what you’re capable of doing.
- We are his creatures. The creator will always know more about his creation.
Jacob for years thought he knew himself well and could maneuver his plan through. At Peniel he wrestle with God to get answers to his destiny. He heard God and his story changed
Genesis 32:27-28,30 KJV
And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. [28] And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. [30] And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
Jacob knew himself as a lowly man of no esteem… The deceiver. But prior to this encounter he knew less of himself.
He answered to this name (Jacob) all his life and he acted like a base and ordinary fellow down street.
He never knew he was a prince of God.
When he knew he was a prince of power, fear dissipate, and fear gone. Then he had boldness to face Esau and his future.
Many of us respond to an internal dialogue of sin, weakness, scarcity and poverty.
What if you come to realize that you’re a prince of God.
Recently I was down in my spirit. When you see other people doing greatly in their calling and you seem to be crawling it can make one depress
In that state, I need to hear God. I was praying and meditating to hear him
Then I heard him: You have a special place with me with special recognition.
This settles it.
Whenever you are about losing your self-esteem, pride (not the evil type), essence or personality go to God. He can fix you up again.
Remember: when you lose touch with your real self you cannot live a fulfilled life. Not at all.
Nobody can tell you who you’re but the Spirit of God.
More so, the reality you grasp of yourself is the height of attainment you can ever reach
Listen to God. He know who you’re.
Why listen to God
2. Only God can supply all our needs
The patriarchs and the prophets of old knew this.
So they learn to listen to know which direction to go and how to receive sustenance.
Poverty is often a dimension of lack of hearing… Being in the wrong place when heaven opens.
1. Adam was planted in a specific location of the earth called Eden.
2. Abraham was told where to go.
3. Elijah was told where to go per season of life.
4. Jesus told Peter the exact place where money is to pay the tax… In a fish mouth (a fish in the river)
There’s no scarcity of anything if only we can hear God well
Why listen to God?
3. Only God can end crisis in a man’s life
Many of us always live from one crisis to another because we never involve God, we follow the impulse of the situation at hand
By so doing we go from crisis to crisis and from frying pan to fire. Do you know that God’s instruction is often against reason?
For instance, you’re late to get married. That’s crisis on its own. You make up your mind not to involve God but marry any available brother or sister on your way. Then you have crisis raise to power 2
No matter how pressing a situation, wait on God. Hear him. This is hard for even me but that’s our best bet.
Our ability to wait and hear him will determine how quick we get over the crisis.
And this will determine the height we will go in life
I had two experiences recently…
1. As Covid-19 pandemic season rolls in I had some money and I was confident it will go far.
I didn’t heed that when no new income is made money dissipate fast.
When I began to rush out of cash pressure sets in. As the internal pressure was growing I began to expand the intensity of my prayer within days the demon of pressure disappeared. I got my peace. It occurred a second time… Then God gave me victory and from supernatural realm all my needs and family’s necessities were met exceedingly and abundantly
Lessons:
We should not be neck deep in trouble before we call on God. You see, I didn’t wait to be overtaken by the crisis before I ran to God
Another lesson there is: The word of God goes ahead of its performance. What you didn’t hear in your spirit man you can’t become or have. By hearing peace within me the supposed crisis became the foundation of miraculous supplies
2. A second experience.
My dad was sick. It was a family crisis.
I knew if we do not handle issues prayerfully. We will by stretched beyond limit.
So I have to begin intense prayers and I told my brethren.
I knew if God is not in it the crisis may cripple us financially and exhaust us physically.
And by praying ahead, I saw God’s hands at every turn.
Instead of the crisis to widen God crashed it and was merciful (though dad’s strength was declining). Yet we saw grace amidst the crisis.
When you take time to read the Bible carefully, you will realize it to be a book that showcased how people mastered crisis by going before God.
1. David in most of his battle will always ask God what to do.
2. Jehoshaphat against 3 kingdom. Sang and danced into battle ground.
3. Hezekiah against Sennacherib.
4. Jesus in the matter of the woman caught in adultery
Etc.
Mary said about Jesus in John 2: Whatever he asked you do, do. Doing comes after listening.
John 2:5 KJV
His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.
Mary knew Jesus had the power to make new wine.
Yet the condition remains: listening and obeying through. In likewise manner, the Lord will bring new wine into your life if you will listen to him today
Why do we listen to him
4. We listen to him in our day to day decision making.
We don’t listen only in time of crisis but also in day to day decision making knowing that every decision is crucial. Small error repeated over and over can destroy a great destiny.
Commit your way into his hands. Find out what he’s saying and follow along
Ephesians 5:17 KJV
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Ignorance is not an excuse in the court of law and in heaven.
Make due diligence to know… This comes by listening
Knowledge only comes by listening
Listening to God is possible through:
1. Prayer
2. Studying the Bible and good literature
3. Going for counselling before mature Christians
4. Walking with the wise.
You may not hear a voice loud and clear from heaven but through your environment and including people around you you will hear God if you seek him enough.
Listen well and you’ll pave your way to abundance, health, rest and divine goodness.
