It seems to be imprinted in the carnal nature of human beings to look for answers everywhere else instead of from GOD. It’s like when we lose an item somewhere, then we think we’ve looked everywhere for it except we forget to look in the most obvious place, which ends up being the last place we look. It’s a bit like that when we are looking for answers. We search everywhere, except the most obvious place we are likely to find the right answers!  David said this of the Lord in the Psalms: Psalm 86:7  ”In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me.” 

When we look everywhere else for answers including within ourselves, without God’s help, we will often come to the conclusion that God hasn’t spoken to us or given us direction. But my response would be for us to look around us at those God puts in our midst to help us & those whom God chooses to use to speak to us, and to help guide us. God also uses human beings to speak to us!

I think very often the question is more about people preferring to only listen to what they want to hear.  For some people, it may feel that God’s way just seems too difficult and too challenging for them to follow. After all, some might say; “I can’t see how this could be possible, I just can’t see how it can happen.”(God’s plan that is). Sadly, this is saying in essence that we actually don’t believe God’s plan for our lives. If we can’t see it in front of us, or if we don’t understand how it can be possible, we easily dismiss the right voice. Jesus said: BELIEVE! Operating in faith, requires just that, FAITH! (That which we may not see but we trust, because it’s from God. Heb 11:1).We cannot operate in isolation as Christians, our hearts will become calloused and eventually through wrong decisions made in isolation we will forsake our faith.

Matthew 13:15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’

“Wrong decisions lead to wrong outcomes”

When making decisions it is important to ask ourselves the question: “Is this what I want, or what God wants for my life?”  People often take what appears to be the easy way out, and suffer the consequences of their wrong decisions, made out of fear or from an emotional response, or even simple rebellion, because they won’t operate in faith and believe!

When we listen to the wrong voices, or make our own decisions apart from GOD, wrong decisions lead to wrong outcomes for our lives, which can often result in unpleasant consequences and things can spiral out of control taking us in the opposite direction to God’s intended plan for our lives. We open ourselves up to the “booby traps” the enemy sets up on the unprotected path we choose that might often lead to the “broad gate” of destruction, instead of moving toward the narrow gate of life.

The spiritual person; the person with a transformed mind & spirit is one that that hears the heart of GOD, trusts GOD’s Word and then operates in obedience by faith, and follows the small still voice of their Maker. It’s about following a process, God’s order of how we make decisions. Not impulsively, or in a place when emotions are high, but pursuing the path that leads to life, God’s way. It’s written in the bible for us to follow.     

John 10:24-27 The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered,  ”I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Heavenly Parent’s name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”

Standing in Prayer

Rev Deborah Bell
22 January 2012 

This is a season for us to stand! The enemy comes to rob our intimacy with God - our prayer lives. By standing in prayer, we stay firmly in God's presence and in the Lord's kingdom plan for our lives. (2012.01.22)

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