Do you think there may be a price to pay for hearing God's voice? It seems to me that God is not going to spend much time "talking at" people who are going to hear His voice and stop there. Really think about that, in any relationship you have right now, how would you feel if the other person never responded to you, other than a "that's nice" or "huh" response?
What I'm getting at is I don't think we are going to hear much from God if we only stay at, "Oh God, I want to hear Your voice," without moving from there to,"Yes, Lord, Your servant is listening" and then after hearing Him, follow up with, "what shall I do, Lord?" I can't imagine God giving revelation and vision to anyone that will not use the information to obey what He is saying. Does this make sense?
Here's the tough part, go ahead and read 2 Corinthians 11:23b-29
I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. [24] Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. [25] Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. [26] I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.* [27] I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm. [28] Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. [29] Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
Did God speak to Paul?
Did they negotiate the price?
Did Jesus barter when he spoke to Peter and how did Peter's life go?
What do you instinctively think when you hear the word, SURRENDER?
What about the word, OBEY?
I think saying, "no" to God is disobedience, just as much as hindering or delaying God's command is disobedience and even so, when we do follow through with a hostile or grudging attitude this is still disobedience...
Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned....
So:
Are you willing to be obedient to what God calls you to do?
What if He tells you to move to Bangladesh, will you be faithful as some others are?
What if He tells you to serve the poor and sell your nice home, or open it up to the needy?
What if He tells you to move to a rough neighborhood and show them God's love in action?
What if He tells you to stay in this difficult marriage and continue to seek Him and pray for your spouse, though you don't see any fruit?
What if you love that new car you're about to buy and God is asking you to give to a ministry in need?
What if God tells you to pray from someone even though you'd rather not?
What if God tells you to keep praying for someone even though you'd still rather not?
What if He tells you to help with the Keiki Life ministry yet you want to sit and be a front row pew potato?
(Okay Sonya, I'll write/talk with you later...)
:)
James 1:22
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.
So, hear me, do you still want to hear the voice of God?
I suggest you spend some time in thought and then pray...oh yeah, and then obey!
There just might be a HIGHER price to pay for NOT obeying and for silencing God's voice in your life...hmm, that's some stuff to think about.
God ROCKS!
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