Jesus Christ told His followers that a
stable foundation is critical in building lives. He said, “Therefore
whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a
wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the
floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not
fall, for it was founded on the rock” (Matt. 7:24-25). The foundation of
Jesus Christ is what will give us the stability our hearts and lives
need now and into the future.
By allowing the Lord’s wisdom to guide us in our relationships,
decisions, and priorities, we find that He provides the most trustworthy
foundation any life could be built upon.
Gracious Father, You are the Lord God, the King of heaven, and I choose to place my hope in You because You alone are worthy of my trust.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runs into it, and is safe.
The Name of the Lord signifies all that God is in himself - his
attributes, his love, mercy, power, knowledge; which allow man to regard
him as a sure Refuge. "Thou hast been a Shelter for me," says the
psalmist (Psalm 61:3),
"and a strong Tower from the enemy." The words bring before us a
picture of a capitol, or central fortress, in which, at times of danger,
the surrounding population could take refuge. Into this Name we
Christians are baptized; and trusting in it, and doing the duties to
which our profession calls, with faith and prayer, we are safe in the
storms of life and the attacks of spiritual enemies.
The righteous runneth into it (the tower), and is safe; literally, is set on high; exaltabitur,
Vulgate; he reaches a position where he in set above the trouble or the
danger that besets him. Thus St. Peter, speaking of Christ, exclaims (Acts 4:12),
"Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other Name
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." "Prayer," says
Tertullian ('De Orat.,' 29), "is the wall of faith, our arms and weapons
against man who is always watching us. Therefore let us never go
unarmed, night or day. Under the arms of prayer let us guard the
standard of our Leader; let us wait for the angel's trumpet, praying."
Septuagint, "From the greatness of his might is the Name of the Lord;
and running unto it the righteous are exalted."
1. Through His Word in general.
2 Timothy 3:16
says that all Scripture is “God-breathed.” His Word sometimes gives us a
warning, a word of encouragement, or a lesson for life. It’s
”His-story”–written with love as God’s guide for life, “so that the man
of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
That means God is whispering, and sometimes shouting, all through His
Word, giving us instructions and principles for life. As we interpret
Scripture by other Scripture, we avoid the false logic and
misinterpretations that sneak into our world. If someone claims, “God
told me to go kill my neighbor!” would you believe him? Of course not!
God never violates His own Word or principles. That “voice” does not
belong to God.
I needed help for raising my children. God “told” me about that in His Word, especially in proverbs. Marriage
difficulties? God spoke about that as well. Times when I was afraid? I
“heard” Jesus’ words to His disciples as they feared for their lives one
stormy night: “Peace, be still!” and it was as if God was speaking to
me, too (Luke 8:23-25). 2. Through His Son, Jesus Christ
The New Testament was the fulfillment of God’s special plan. It’s the
gospel: the good news of Jesus Christ. “In the past God spoke to our
forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but
in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son, whom he appointed
heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe” Hebrews 1:1-2, NIV).
Through the words of Jesus in Scripture, we can “hear” God’s heart and
God’s voice–and know what God is truly like. These words were not
written for a few, select individuals who could jump through the right
spiritual hoops (“For God so loved the world…”). Someone in Africa, in
Germany, in China, and in Alabama can “hear” Jesus’ voice by reading the
same Bible.
Comparing us to sheep and He as the Shepherd, Jesus says in John 10:27,
NKJV: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
Why? Because the sheep know who He is. They belong to Him, and they
recognize Him by the sound of His voice. And He’s the one who will
always lovingly lead them on the right path–again and again. 3. Through Nature and God’s Creation
“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his
eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood
from what has been made, so that men are without excuse ” Romans 1:20,
NIV). Through the intricate details and magnificent beauty of all that
God has made, we can “hear” His voice. How? By observing the ant’s
strength to store up food all summer long, we learn about wisdom and
industriousness. By studying the heavens, we understand more of God’s
greatness. And through planting and growing a garden, we “hear” about
miracles of death and rebirth. God designed–and spoke them all into
existence. 4. Through Other Believers
God may use a friend, a teacher, a parent, or a preacher to convey His
message of truth to us. Their words may come as a warning, a blessing,
or as a prophetic truth about our lives.Whether we choose to hear it or
ignore it, depends on us. Do their words line up with Scripture? Will
God confirm or affirm that truth in us? “The wisdom that comes from
heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive,
full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere” (James 3:17, NIV).
I’ve “heard” God speak to me numerous times through other people. A
good friend once cautioned me about flirting with danger. Words from a
speaker or Christian author have both challenged me and convicted me at
times. And I’ve “heard” God talking to me through my own children as
their pure and honest words cut clear to my heart and spirit, reminding
me of God’s true priorities.
All these things may not sound to you like ways of ”hearing God’s
voice,” but it’s possible to reduce God to our own image if we insist on
Him acting or reacting a certain way. God is bigger than that. He once
spoke through a donkey (Numbers 22:28). Why then, can’t He speak through anyone at anytime or in any way He wants to?
Bottom line is that if we are His children, God loves us
unconditionally and will spare no expense to show us. Our part? Believe
Him!
Hearing His “audible” voice would no doubt cinch His reality in an
awesome way. But I’ve never heard God through an angel’s message. I have
no taped recordings to tell you what God sounds like. But I have heard
God “speak” through the above ways–and in a few more. Read on.
5. Through Music
Perhaps one of the ways I can sense God’s presence the most and “hear”
His voice the best is when I am praising Him through music. Maybe it’s
because in times of depression and difficult trials in the past, I would
pour over David’s songs in Psalms, often singing them back to God with
my own tunes. Praise brings me instantly to attention, like a sergeant’s
command to his soldiers. The words and the notes bring a soothing
comfort, excitement, and passion that open my ears and heart and lift my
spirits immediately.
In 2 Chronicles 20,
King Jehoshaphat faced a huge army of enemies who could have easily
destroyed His people, but he did a strange thing. With a declaration
that his eyes were on God, he sent in a choir of praise singers: “Jehoshaphat
appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of
his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: ‘Give
thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever’” (2 Chronicles 20:21, NIV).
God “spoke” clearly. He released His power, and Jehoshaphat’s army defeated their enemies!
6. Through Circumstances
When others claim to hear God through circumstances, I try to caution
them to test their conclusions with other evidence. God is a Holy God,
and often uses circumstances to get our attention. But He will usually
confirm it in other ways.
This happened to us before my husband and I married. We were dating in
high school and were both involved in what could have been a deadly
accident, when a speeding pick-up hit our car broadside. Through that
accident, my husband felt God had a special purpose for his life. Did he
“hear” God’s literal “Yes?” No, but through much prayer, seeking God’s
Word, and talking to others, he felt God’s confirmation. Several months
later, he committed his life to full-time Christian service.
Someone once told me they just knew God was telling them it was okay to
buy a brand-new pickup. They’d prayed about it, and circumstances
confirmed it: the local car dealership had just the color and model they
wanted. But there was one small problem they were neglecting. They
couldn’t afford it on their income. And they ignored other red flags as
well.
Through Moses, God used circumstances (plagues) to convince Egypt’s
leader to release God’s people from slavery. But Pharaoh wouldn’t
listen.
Sometimes God uses our circumstances to test our faith. We don’t always
know how to interpret the things that happen to us. I recently took my
first trip in an ambulance to the local ER–unfortunately as a patient.
My pulse, along with my blood pressure, dropped dangerously low. For
several minutes my world looked like a spinning photo negative. Scary,
to say the least. Four hours of testing later found no cause as to why
it happened. The doctor pronounced me healthy and sent me home, after
encouraging me to get a follow-up–which I did. Nothing showed up.
I don’t know if God was speaking to me about something special, but the
first thing I did was tell Him I was listening! If nothing else,
life–and loved ones–suddenly became much more precious to me. One of the
first things I usually ask God when circumstances change is: “God, is
there something you want to teach me through this?” Yes, I know
everything is “fodder” for writers. But I want to make it personal and
learn the lesson first.
7. Through His Spirit
I once heard someone teach about “minding the checks” in your spirit.
Some may call it “God’s whispers,” while others say, “God’s still, small
voice.” We are made in the image of God, and when we confess Jesus and
follow Him as our Lord and Savior, His Spirit comes to live in us (John 14:17, 1 Corinthians 3:16).
God’s Spirit speaks to us through our conscience, helping to make the
right decision. When we’re tempted, that same Spirit warns and nudges us
to do the right thing.
As a writer, I depend on God’s Spirit to give me direction. There are
times when ideas pop into my mind totally unexpectedly–and sometimes
directly after a plea for help from God. The good ideas I credit to God,
because after all, He is the source of every good and perfect gift. The
others? They’re in file 13. Even the good ones need developing and
rewriting, but that’s a different subject.
Why do you suppose ten people can “hear” a sermon, but each person will
walk away with a different truth that applies to him? In some cases,
the speaker never spoke what the people say they “heard.” Many times,
that may be the result of God’s Spirit speaking a personal “Rhema,” a
living, breathing word of truth to our spirits. It’s when Scripture
comes alive to us–because it is truly “God-breathed.”
8. Through Prayer
Each way I’ve shared that God may speak to us today meshes into the
other. God often speaks to us through His Spirit, through prayer. We may
not know how to pray, but God’s Word tells us His spirit makes
intercession for us (Romans 8:26-27).
Often through a combination of fasting and prayer, our minds become
clearer and our hearts are more sensitive to God. Again, we may not hear
God’s literal voice, but His Spirit confirms a certain direction or
answer for us. As the distractions fade, we can sense His leading in a
new way. Sometimes while praying, God’s Spirit will remind us of a
Scripture or a truth in His Word that we can directly apply to the
situation.
Does that happen immediately? Not always. There have been occasions
where I still had no clue what to do, but in faith I thanked God
whenever and however He would answer. A day, a week, maybe even months
pass. Then one day in the shower or on a walk, a thought comes–that
gentle “whisper” that could only come from Him, accompanied by His
peace.
You Are Unique
Does God speak to all of us the same way? No, we are all unique. Are
these the only ways God speaks today? No. He’s a creative God. He speaks
so many ways, including through miracles. In other countries where
Christianity is taboo, God is also revealing Himself repeatedly through
dreams. Report after report confirms that an unbeliever who has never
heard of Jesus dreams of Him–but doesn’t know who the “man” is–or what
the dream means. Then a messenger comes, shows a film about Jesus’ death
and resurrection, and the one who has dreamed recognizes the man in his
dream: It’s Jesus, the Son of God!
Remember One Truth
Regardless of the way God chooses to reveal Himself or “speak” to us
today, remember one truth. He will never contradict His Word, and the
message He gives will always bring glory to God. The Bible warns about
adding anything to the already written, God-breathed Word of God, or
accepting any other messenger who claims to be superior to Jesus (Revelation 22:18-19;2 Corinthians 11:4).
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn’t
love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong
or a clanging cymbal.
If I had the gift of prophecy and if I knew all the mysteries of the
future and knew everything about everything, but didn’t love others,
what good would I be?
And if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, without love I would be no good to anybody.
If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I
could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no
value whatsoever.
Love is patient and kind.
Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.
Love does not demand its own way.
Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.
It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.
Love will last forever, but prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will all disappear.
Now we know only a little, and even the gift of prophecy reveals
little! But when the end comes, these special gifts will all disappear.
It’s like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned
as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we
see things imperfectly as in a poor mirror, but then we will see
everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and
incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God
knows me now. There are three things that will endure – faith, hope, and love – and the greatest of these is love.
God is not only the God of second chances; He is the God of another
chance. This is good news because most of us mess up the second chance
fairly quickly. One of the amazing facets of God's character is His
incredible patience with us. Psalm 86:15
says it well: "But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow
to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." Micah 7:18
says, "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over
transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his
anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love."
The Bible is full of people who received second chances, and even third
and fourth chances: Peter, Jonah, Mark, Samson, David, and others. All
trophies of God’s grace.
Just as God is patient and forgiving, He wants His children to be
patient with and forgiving of others. "Therefore, as God's chosen
people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Colossians 3:12).
He gives us second chances, and we must give the same to others. Jesus
gives a stern warning to those who refuse to forgive, saying that if we
will not forgive others, God will not forgive us (Matthew 6:15; see also Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13; and Proverbs 19:11). If someone is truly repentant, then we are obligated to forgive (Matthew 18:21-22).
Forgiveness, however, is not the same thing as reconciliation. Many
people struggle to find the balance between showing mercy and enabling a
harmful person to continue harming. We should forgive everyone who
wrongs us, just as Jesus forgives us. Forgiveness is between our heart
and God's, removing any barriers that unforgiveness brings. When someone
continues to unrepentantly violate another person’s boundaries, a wise
person learns to set firmer boundaries. If a man has repeatedly punched
you in the face, you can forgive him; but you don't stand within arm's
distance until he has proved over time that he has changed.
Giving someone a second chance means we give him another chance to earn
our trust. But that does not mean we instantly forget what experience
has taught us. Trust must be earned over time, and we are foolish if we
give trust prematurely. We can have a loving and forgiving heart that
also practices wise guardianship over our lives.
When we have wronged someone, we have no right to demand another chance.
But we should work to earn another chance by continued demonstration of
repentance and change.
Even God has a limit on forgiveness. In Romans 1:18-32,
the apostle Paul warns us what happens when we continue to spurn God's
patience and reject His call to repentance. Three different times, the
phrase "God turned them over" appears. When we insist on running our
lives the way we want rather than the way God wants, He lets us.
Eventually, when our hearts are hardened against Him, He lets us go. He
turns us over to a reprobate mind, one that can no longer seek God. At
that point, sin has become our god.
There may come a time in a human relationship when the same thing has
occurred – when forgiveness has been offered and restoration made
possible, but one party refuses to repent and rejects all efforts to
reconcile. It may be time to end that relationship. Second chances are
no longer working. Ending a relationship is a last resort, but sometimes
it must be done (Matthew 18:17).
God does everything possible to draw us to repentance, offering forgiveness and second chances (2 Peter 3:9). But if we continue to reject Him, the offer is withdrawn and, at death, there are no more chances (Hebrews 9:27). God’s grace is our model. We can offer second chances to others until a healthy relationship is no longer possible.
Divine favor does not belong to all but only to the elect, and as a
child of the Most High God you are legally in line for an outpouring of
divine favor and promotion that is coming your way. But you must first
apply these biblical principles to receive it.
For example, divine favor rested on the life of Abraham, yet none of
his family experienced it. His father, Terah, and all his family that
stayed in Haran did not know God’s favor (Genesis 11). Abraham was blessed and favored because he was chosen (Genesis 12:1-3).
And that favor was seen repeatedly in Abraham’s life. There are so
many examples in Scripture. When he went down to Egypt, he had favor
with the pharaoh (Genesis 12). When he fought against the forces that captured his nephew Lot (Genesis 14), Abraham was given divine favor and victory.
Divine favor rested on his son Isaac, but Isaac’s half-brother
Ishmael did not know the same favor. Isaac was blessed beyond measure
during one of the worst famines of his day. Even though he sowed seed
during drought, he received a hundredfold return (Genesis 26:12). Think about it—he received a hundredfold return in the midst of famine, even though those around him remained in drought! Now that is real favor.
And everywhere Isaac turned he prospered, so much so that Abimelech, king of the Philistines, said to Isaac:
“Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we” (Genesis 26:16).
How about Jacob, whom God favored instead of his brother Esau:
“Yet I loved Jacob, and I hated Esau” (Malachi 1:2-3).
Why would God set his heart on one brother and not another? Favor.
In fact, amazing favor rested upon Jacob repeatedly throughout his
life. He escaped the wrath of his own brother and the trickery and
mistreatment of his uncle Laban. Jacob left Isaac’s house empty and came
back one of the richest men of his day.
Favor also rested on Joseph, Jacob’s son, in such a supernatural way
that he was promoted in Egypt when Pharaoh had never seen him before. He
was unknown to the ruler of the most powerful nation in the region, yet
Joseph was given such favor that Pharaoh handed him control over the
land!
Favor rested on Moses to such an extent that he was favored by
Pharaoh’s daughter, who prepared the infant as he grew up for his life’s
historic mission.
Favor rested on Israel when they left Egypt to such a degree that they literally took all the riches of Egypt (Exodus 12:36). The Bible says they “spoiled,” or took all the wealth, not just part of it. God’s
supernatural and divine favor rested on David as he defeated Goliath
and later was given the kingdom while being protected repeatedly against
his enemies. God even called David “a man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).
Divine favor rested on Solomon and God restored him in the end.
So much favor rested on the life of Job that God restored twice what was taken from him.
God’s favor rested on the prophets so amazingly that when
Nebuchadnezzar seized Jerusalem in 586 B.C., he ordered that Jeremiah be
freed from prison and treated well.
The list of examples of divine favor is endless!
Even our precious Lord Jesus, who escaped harm time after time, experienced His Father’s divine favor.
The apostles were favored by the people and the authorities could not
touch them or stop them from preaching the Gospel. Paul the apostle was
given favor by the Romans themselves and protected from death when the
Jews tried to kill him. He was rescued more than once, with God
preserving his life repeatedly.
