Ears Wide Open

Have you ever prayed for/about something and you're just not sure if God has answered you, let alone heard you? It seems as if all you get done doing is praying and waiting. And waiting. And waiting. Patience was never a virtue of mine. (Yup I did the thing everyone is scared to do....I prayed FOR patience. But that's an entirely different post.) Did I somehow miss His answer?

I didn't know what to expect or HOW to expect an answer from the Holy One. Would there be a booming voice from Heaven instructing me on my next steps? A giant neon road sign proclaiming my answer was just up ahead? A blinking red arrow indicating my answer was this way? Shoot, I would have been happy with some snail mail if I knew it enclosed God's words for me.

Oh how I wish God worked that way! Easy, in your face, without a doubt, proof of His answer.

BUT

God does hear us. He does answer us. We just have to listen. And when we keep our ears in tune with God we get SO much more than just answered prayers.

Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Turn off the sounds of the world, social media, television, even people, anything that muffles the sound of God's voice. Turn down the volume of outside noise. Turn down the static. I know . I know, it sounds hard to do in such a fast paced world. When there is alllllways something going on, always a task that needs tended to. In Psalm 46:10 God instructs us to be still. (Maybe that's something you personally need to work on.)

Now the Lord of the Heavens LOVES when we come to talk with Him (Pray without ceasing

1 Thess 5:17) Often times prayer is usually too much of us talking. Words, words, and more words. And not enough of us just being still and listening to what God is trying to say to our hearts. Are we even giving Him time to speak to, to answer? We need to slow down and genuinely humble ourselves before God. To be intentional in our prayer life and intentional in truly listening for Him.

Open your Bible, dive head first into scripture. God, the Holy Spirit who is direct contact to God, will speak through scripture. Which means He speaks in truth and will never tell you anything that goes against scripture. So if you "think" God is telling you something and it is the complete opposite of what scripture instructs then stop, redirect, and wait.

Romans 10:17 So then by FAITH cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God

Don't wait for a thought bubble to pop up with words of wisdom from the Holy Spirit, not going to happen. But what will happen and will probably sound cliche but that nagging at your conscience, that bubbling gut feeling that just won't go away, that my friends is the Holy Spirit talking to you. So you had better listen up!

John 16:13 But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth....

No happenstance. All orchestrated by the hand God. He will use our circumstance to speak. Subtle ways sometimes. A nudging here. A little push there. Something out of the norm, something that makes you stop and think. Is that you God?

Our Master and Commander will use people to confirm His voice. A conversation with a mentor, pastor, or friend that just so happens to coincide with your prayer. That's not a coincidence. His doing this to reaffirm His answer to you.

There have been plenty of times when the answers I have received makes me say ....Ummmm what?! You want me to do this? How? I'm so unqualified. Are you sure I'm the best person for this? I think you have be confused with someone else.

Or, "Boy Lord you really are stretching me, making me get out of my little safe box. But I'll do it."

(With a joyful heart of course, with minimal resistance, 95% of the time. Hey now, I'm not perfect.)

Or my answer is a big fat "NO".

A couple of times it was a "No" with a, "I have something better" attached to it.

Sometimes it's a, "Not at this time because you have more to learn".

You are going to have to be open and honest not only with yourself but with God. Do you truly want to hear Him? Will you heed His voice and instructions, apply His wisdom and follow the directions He's sending you? Or ignore Him because His answer wasn't what you wanted to hear? Will you actually obey His words, and be thankful no matter what?

Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness

Doesn't matter what His answer is I am just delighted that I was able to slow down, quiet any distractions and connect my heart and soul to Him. I know His answers, no matter what they may be, are best because He loves me and wants whats best for me and His kingdom.

If you are waiting to hear from God.....

Keep your ears wide open.