Do you hear God speaking? Do you listen? God speaks to us in many ways (John 10:27-28 Luke,6:46 Job 33:14-18, 2 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 1:1-2). Our problem is not that God isn’t speaking, it is we are not listening. Oftentimes, even when we hear what God says, we ignore it. We stay locked in our disappointment at a loss instead of being comforted by God telling us there is so much more He plans to give us. We stay jealous of others instead of recognizing the abundance God has already provided for us. We feel lost when there is only one pathway we need to worry about and God will keep us on it if we let him.
For each blog post I write, I pray God would give me the words people need to hear. I realized this morning - not for the first time - that God does this not only for me to help others but also to help myself as well. God calls me to write what I need to hear. So, this one's for me.
I’m a big fan of the Upper Room http://www.upperroom.org/. One part of their ministry is a daily devotional. I receive it as an email each morning and more often than not, I’m blessed with a message that directly addresses a need in my life whether it be encouragement for my calling, support for a struggle I’m facing, a reminder of God’s blessing, or even a call to obedience when I’ve wandered off the path.
Today’s devotional was on following Jesus and not comparing ourselves to others and their journey. I was convicted because the night before I was bemoaning that so-and-so seemed to have so much while I was struggling. God spoke to me through the devotional to remind me that I have my own calling and I need to keep my eyes on fulfilling my call and not getting wrapped up in all the jealousy, sadness, and distractions that keep me from that call.
Whether it’s through God’s Word, a devotional, a friend’s advice, or the Holy Spirit’s whispering, God is speaking. I know my life goes much better when I listen instead of stubbornly refusing to follow His Word like teenagers who rebel against their parents and get into all sorts of trouble. Have you noticed as you age you realize the wisdom your parents have to offer? I pray that I will mature to the point where I recognize the wisdom in God’s teachings, follow Him, and reap the blessings.
“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:3 ESV