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Hearing God’s Voice
God uses a number of methods to communicate with us. He speaks through:
- His Word
- The Holy Spirit
- Other people and circumstances.
God has specific purposes for imparting His thoughts to us. Namely, He desires that we comprehend His truth so that it can shape our life and so that we can share His good news with others. But if God has a particular intention for communicating with us, we have to ask, what happens when we fail to listen?
We can find the answer at the beginning of the Bible, in the account of Adam and Eve. We know that God spoke very clearly to the first man (Genesis 2:16-17), instructing him not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
This issue is that the first man and woman understood perfectly (Genesis 3:2-3) but did not obey. Their disobedience marks the fall of man. Every person born thereafter – with the single exception of the Lord Jesus Christ – came into this world with a sinful nature originating from Adam. That means that you and I have never met a perfect person. All sin, suffering, heartache, problems, war bloodshed and violence can be traced back to its origin in the Garden of Eden.
Unfortunately, what occurred in the first family centuries ago has been happening in some form with every family since. As with Adam and Eve, once we have received God’s instructions, we, too, are accountable for what we have heard or read. We can avoid much heartache and trouble by heeding the Lord’s communication; failure to listen results in severe repercussions.
The account in Genesis 3 has eight consequences of ignoring the Lord’s instructions. Find out which ones they are next week
Part 4:What Should be Included in Prayer?
Although communion with God is all about our heart’s attitude, the following are four aspects of prayer that make for a healthy conversation with God.
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Adoration
To show adoration to God is to worship, praise, honour and exalt Him. In other words, respect Him, be in awe of Him, and say wonderful things about Him. Psalm 103 and 145 are good examples of adoring the Lord.
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Confession
When we begin to acknowledge how great, perfect and awesome our God is, we can’t help but recognize our weaknesses and sins. Admitting and confessing our sins (1 John 1:9) and knowing He has forgiven our past, present and future sin is vital to our prayer life. God is a Holy God, so we need to come to Him with a clean heart. “He would not have listened if I had not confessed my sins” (Psalm 66:18).
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Thanksgiving
Giving thanks expresses our faith, and it is faith that pleases God. In Hebrews 6:11 we read, “And without faith it is impossible to please God.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 states, “In all things give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ concerning you.” We don’t necessarily give thanks for the difficult circumstances, but give thanks for His total provision during good - and painful ones.
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Supplication
Asking seems to come naturally to children. As God’s children, we can freely talk to Him and ask Him for anything. And like any caring parent, He will say, “Yes” to some of our requests, “No” some of the time and at times, He will say, “Wait.”
You can remember this outline for prayer through the acronym ACTS - Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. Each component is a necessary for an effective prayer life.
Part 3: 7 Practical Steps Towards Effective Quiet Time
Set some time aside during a day, or every day. Start with about 15 minutes and you work up to 30 minutes and more for each day
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- Pick a place that you want to go to be alone: It doesn’t matter where you go (a lake, bedroom, roof, park, etc.). The important thing is that you get rid of all distractions. Get away from people, phones, the internet, computers, anything that would detour your thoughts from God.
- Get your materials together: A Bible; a notebook & pen; a songbook, favorite worship tape/CDs & player; a reading plan, etc.
- Follow a simple plan: Relax, be quiet before God – ask Him to settle your mind and heart. Turn your mind toward God; think about who He is, what He has done, and your relationship with Him. This intentional focusing on God begins your quiet time.
- Take time to worship: Praise God; adore Him, thank Him and listen to Him.
- Read the Bible: Slowly read a section asking God to speak to you through the Word. Ask yourself questions such as: What has God done for which I can thank Him? Is there any example for me to follow? Is there any command for me to obey? Is there any sin for me to forsake? Is there any promise for me to claim?
- Write down in your notebook anything you observe and learn from God in the passage.
- Pray: Talk to God about anything you’ve read; about your needs and requests for others
These are just guidelines, and not a strict formula you have to follow. You can start with this model before formulating one that suits you best.
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Part 2: Why is Daily Quiet Time so Important?
- It reminds us that we belong to God. Jesus said, “I choose you!” (John 15:16)
- It creates room for God in our busy lives.
“Be still and know that I am the LORD, and wait patiently for him.” (Psalm 37:7)
- It builds our relationship with God through regular communication. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
- It helps to give direction to our lives as followers of Jesus Christ. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119: 105)
- It enables us to live deep and fulfilling lives. “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)
Part 1: What is “Quiet Time”?
A “Quiet Time” is a daily personal appointment with God, during which we get away from distractions and meet with God through prayer, meditation and Bible study. Through these disciplines God talks to us and we talk to God.
Why is daily quiet time so important? We shall be examining this next week in this new series on prayer. |
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