(Condensed from: Is That Really You, God?: Hearing the Voice of God, by Loren Cunningham)
*If you know the Lord, you have already heard His voice—it is that inner leading that brought you to Him in the first place.
1. Don't make guidance complicated.
- Submit to His lordship. Ask Him to help you silence your own thoughts and desires and the opinions of others that may be filling your mind, right now you want to hear the thoughts of the Lord.
- Resist the enemy, in case he is trying to deceive you at this moment. Use the authority that Jesus Christ has given you to silence the voice of the enemy.
- Expect an answer.
3. Confess any unforgiven sin.
4. Use the Axehead Principle—2 Kings 6. If you seem to have lost your way, go back to the last time you knew the sharp, cutting edge of God's voice. Then obey (have you obeyed the last thing God told you to do?).
5. Get your own leading. God will use others to confirm your guidance, but you should also hear from Him directly.
6. Don't talk about your guidance until God gives you permission to do so. Waiting avoids the pitfalls of guidance—pride, presumption, missing God's timing and method, bringing confusion to others.
7. Use the Wise Men Principle—confirming what He is telling you.
8. Beware of counterfeits.
9. Opposition of man is sometimes guidance from God. Yieldedness to the Lord, not rebellion.
10. Every follower of Jesus has a unique ministry. The more you seek to hear God's voice in detail, the more effective you will be in your own calling.
11. Practice hearing God's voice and it becomes easier.
12. Relationship is the most important reason for hearing the voice of the Lord.
In the book, I also found this gem on hearing God/receiving guidance:
- Guidance is first of all a relationship with the Guide. The first goal of guidance is to lead us into a closer relationship with Jesus. All other goals should be subservient to that.
3 comments:
I was just asked:
"Can you explain the part about not talking about your guidance? how then do we get confirmation?"
Sometimes (and I've failed too often here), we are supposed to keep silent about what God has shared with us...It could be that He simply wants us to pray for someone or over the situation--interceding. It also could be that PRIDE wants others to know God speaks to ME.
Other times it may be that God has not fully disclosed everything so the thing we speak may be incomplete, we are lacking full understanding, or even misinterpreting things because we only got a glimpse or as I love to say, "a sneak preview of coming attractions."
Then there are times where God is still softening/preparing the hearts of others, putting things into place and saying something prematurely could cause confusion, pain, or other things.
When God speaks to us, we need to hold that communication near and dear to our own hearts...ASKING God if this is something to share with others, and/or when.
I've seen wise people just ask others to pray and share what God is saying...without pretense, or prepping with what was said by the Lord earlier...then it all gets confirmed independently, or corporately.... cool stuff.
The book, reveals a number of times where these things occurred in the history of YWAM.
I've seen it played out in my own life, and unfortunately through the mistakes I've made and/or others have made.
God is gracious and God is good. We really need to be seeking/asking God every step of the way...especially in revelation.
Jesus told His disciples to keep some things secret for a time.
Daniel was told to remain silent for a time too...
Just ask God if this is something to treasure quietly in your heart, until He releases you.
I've journaled things, knowing to be silent and then seen things get crazy awesome...in HIS time.
One specific story:
I asked God what He wanted accomplished through my friendship with someone, He basically said: "I'm going to use you to show her what LOVE really is...she will again trust and learn to share and express that LOVE."
I did not share this, and instead wrote it down in my journal.
A couple of months later, a friend of mine and I were talking and he said, out-of-the-blue, "Keiger, maybe you're supposed to love her beyond your own love, and with AGAPE love...to show her what LOVE really is." I remember smiling to myself when he said that and just so knew that God was speaking to me through my friend's words. It also hurt...
I think love can and does hurt..Jesus loved me enough to suffer and to go to the cross.
6 months later (and after we parted ways), I received the following message, "I don't know when God wants to take me home. But I do know what love is through you."
I cried when I got that message and it is one of my cherished journal entries/moments. I never did share God's word to me with her, I know I don't need to. Though admittedly I wanted to several times...I'm glad now that I never did.
It's sad, it's powerful, and it's beautiful... God is God, and He ROCKS!
Hope all this answers your question...
The Lord our God ROCKS!
haaaah so I was a total wuss for not posting the question. I was afraid it was a dumb question, but I figured that since you were bold enough to give such an honest answer, then I should at least own up!
I tend to forget to ask God for guidance for every step taken.. Hmm.. well, I guess I never made a conscious effort to do so. I usually get so excited that I share without ever thinking of the consequences. So maybe to satisfy my craving for silence, I just need to shut up!
Mucho mahalos for sharing that story. So God will make sure His message gets confirmed by using different people in different ways.. that's so cool =)
I think the saddest stories are often the most beautiful, and the most powerful.
GOD ROCKS
Keiger!!! i read thru a bunch of faithbrothers blogspot, and i was encouraged! i actually ordered Cunningham's book from amazon a few days ago...then i come to your spot and here's the condensed version...i didn't even need to order the book!! hehe nah, now i can look forward to getting/reading the full version.
Post a Comment