When a friend of mine was in Tokyo, and getting ready to board a plane heading to Chicago, he looked out the window and noticed an airplane from Taiwan Airways. A few days later, he realized God was speaking to him about moving to Taiwan. A year later he learned no such airline existed. God used an open vision to help speak to him about his future.
Fast forward three years: my friend, now living in Taiwan, is currently seeing area codes of a particular major city in the United States. We were discussing this the other day, and I reminded him, “God doesn’t always speak to us in the same way every time. He loves being creative, and changing things up.”
God doesn’t get bored!
God is so creative. His imagination didn’t stop after creation. His designs of interacting with his children is genius, and can be fun as well. God also has a lot to say. He will share things with you if you ask him to, and if you take the time.
The devil can stir up trouble and emotions in us, and in our lives that hinder us from hearing God. Those are the times we need to focus harder on listening to him. God speaks to us in so many different ways. Through his word, the Bible, via dreams, through our pastor and friends. He can use anything that we see, hear, smell, touch, speak, or even taste.
“For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.” Job 33:14 (NKJV)
One of his specialties is using his creation to speak. A coworker, several years ago, was questioning if God existed. He went on vacation to the Grand Canyon where he sat on the rim, and found his answer.
One of the best ways to hear God is to get quiet. Many times it is when we are still we finally are able to hear his gentle Spirit whisper to our soul.
“Be still, and know that I am God…” Ps. 46:10 (KJV)
Remember; just because God has spoken to you before, or even several times in a particular way, it doesn’t mean he is this time. Nor count on him speaking to you the way he spoke to someone else. When a famous person preaches on how God spoke to them, or how God used them to accomplish something, or to receive healing, don’t run home and try to follow a recipe and expect the same result. Doing so and not receiving an identical outcome can cause you to get disgruntled with God.
So, when God ask, “Can you hear me now?” I hope your answer will always be, “Yes, Lord, your servant is listening.”
Copyright © 2021 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
Be quiet mind,
My favorite part, of Jesus’ death on the cross is this; the very moment he exhaled his last breath the thick, tall, heavy curtain that separated man, from the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom. It’s my favorite part, because now, we have direct access to God’s presence.
It happened again. The explosive temper from one I am supposed to love, and I do, but the pain. I left their presence, but I was a “walking wounded”. I kept rewinding the scene and playing it over and over in my mind. Why? This didn’t need to happen. I begin seeking comfort.
There are things, that go on in this world, I do not understand. I ask questions like, “Why”, and “How?” There are also things of God I do not understand, but I never used to question Him. To be honest, I felt as if it showed a lack of faith. So I have grown in my relationship with God just believing, and trusting, and knowing, “He’s got this!” And in some ways that is good. I relied on the following verses whenever I couldn’t understand or know what God was doing in my life, or in other’s lives around me:
A man wondered into the church. He was hungry. He was given a sack lunch. The man was also deaf, but could read. He understood two people in the church wanted to pray for his hearing, and he let them. Then he shared his car was almost out of gas and he wouldn’t be able to get to work the next day. One of the two went with him and filled up his car. He shared while pumping the gas, God spoke to him and said, “Full Service.” He knew what God meant, but to help him remember, he washed the windshield as well.
The list, could go on. The truth is, these individuals need Jesus. Most do not think to turn to him, because they can’t see him, but they can see you. In a time, when our world is in so much pain, those who know Jesus, and has the hope he provides, needs to answer the call of duty.
Moving the Holy is moving the heart of God. One thing that moves his heart is obedience. Whenever I didn’t obey as a child my unholy backside got moved! When God speaks and directs you through his Spirit, you have two choices, obey or not. It may be extremely painful and difficult to obey, but you should do it anyway. You may feel silly, do it anyway. The other, who may be a recipient of what God told you to do may not understand, do it anyway. If God’s direction causes you to sacrifice something, well then it moves the heart of God even more. GOD IS HOLY!
brady, mark a. 