Recently my prayers to God have been about hearing His voice, I often feel led by Him. I get strong feelings to do or not to do something, And I have learned to trust those feelings. There has also been many times where I get confirmation from other people on what I have already felt led to do. But this hasn't kept me from wanting to hear His voice.
I have friends who hear from God clearly, audibly, in full sentences. I also know people who talk about their conversations with God, just like they are talking with a friend over tea. Conversations that lead them to specific Bible verses that confirm exactly what God has told them. God is amazing and I know that He speaks to each of us differently.
There is no room for confusion or doubt when you hear the words and can remember them as they were spoken. In the moment that I feel led, I am always sure of what God is leading me to do. But later, after the fact is when I tend to question myself. But there are several things I ask myself in times of doubt...is it positive? Does it align with the teachings in the Bible? and is it consistent with the path God has me on? If I can answer yes to each of those questions, I can usually put it to rest. With all that in mind, I still couldn't stop from thinking that things would be so much clearer if God would just speak to me.
This past Monday, during class, we had an exercise where we prayed and listened for God to give us a word. It was a really beautiful experience, the spirit was flowing and I felt really connected to the ladies in our group. Despite all that, I tried to stay focused and think positive but I didn't hear much. I believe I got a small word but not anything compared to the ladies there with me.
Afterwards I shared with the ladies about how I feel led by the Lord even though I feel like He doesn't speak to me. And I thanked each of them because I felt like He used them to speak to me directly. I felt like my prayers were answered. I left that class feeling blessed, motivated and encouraged to stay on this journey,
The next day, on my way to work I stopped by the store to get me a cup of coffee. I had a nice conversation with the young lady at the counter, who has been really sick with her pregnancy. She gave me my cup and immediately as I walked away from her, I received the thought and a strong urging to turn around and pray with her.
So guess what I did...nothing, I kept walking towards my car, the whole time talking to God and questioning if that was what He really wanted me to do. When I sat down in my car, the thought came...Am I not talking to you or are you just not listening? I was crushed because here I am asking God to speak to me and then when I believe that He is...I ignore Him.
I was too worried about what she would think? What she would say? What it would look like if I went back into the store and asked her if I could pray with her? Was that really what God wanted me to do? All questions that did not require an answer. I had never done anything like that before, pray for a woman in the middle of a store? But that did not matter. I knew better, when God speaks you respond and I had just failed miserably.
I decided that the next time I saw this young lady, I would do what I was supposed to do. I beat myself up pretty bad over this but to make a long story short, The next time I saw her, I did what I was supposed to do, I pulled her to the side and she agreed to let me pray for her. And I felt amazing after I did it. I felt an unexplainable joy. I just wish I would have responded immediately to what God was telling me to do.
What I learned from this is that God is always speaking to us but we are not always listening, We all need to be more open to however he decides to speak to us. It could be a dream or a vision, an audible voice or just a feeling, we all need to take heed and respond immediately. I admit I am still growing and I am ready for the next time, Lord please don't stop speaking to me...
Remember the more we listen, the more He will speak and the more obedient we are the more He will direct us...so listen because He is speaking.
James 1:22 22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
2 Timothy 3:16 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
John 10:27-28 27My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Psalm 25:4-5 4Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
John 8:47 47He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.