When was the last time?
Every morning and evening, I do my best to begin the day with prayer and also end it with the same. This has been my routine before I ever accepted the call to ministry.
In prayer, I have not as yet heard an audible voice, but can point to many instances where I knew beyond any doubt that The Lord had spoken to me. But as a believer and a preacher, the regular occurrence of these Divine impartations is important. How often do I "hear from God"? Every day? Every week? Once a year?
I am writing this post to ask you, the reader, a simple question ...
When was the last time you heard from God?
When was the last time that you received a YES or a NO in prayer from The Lord of all Creation?
When did you last seek His face or take time to earnestly find direction from Him about your life (and not prejudge what the answer must be)?
When last did you ask Him the hard question(s) - the one(s) you're afraid to pose to your friends and peers in the church? Would you hear His reply, should He speak it?
Have you asked The Lord for a miracle, and believe that He really could bring it to pass?
Can Jesus impart new knowledge and wisdom into you? Do you give Him the space to speak, or do you simply allot Him the leftover seconds in your day?
Do you have the time to pray? Do you have the time to seek His face (which is not the same as simple prayer)?
In prayer, I have not as yet heard an audible voice, but can point to many instances where I knew beyond any doubt that The Lord had spoken to me. But as a believer and a preacher, the regular occurrence of these Divine impartations is important. How often do I "hear from God"? Every day? Every week? Once a year?
I am writing this post to ask you, the reader, a simple question ...
When was the last time you heard from God?
When was the last time that you received a YES or a NO in prayer from The Lord of all Creation?
When did you last seek His face or take time to earnestly find direction from Him about your life (and not prejudge what the answer must be)?
When last did you ask Him the hard question(s) - the one(s) you're afraid to pose to your friends and peers in the church? Would you hear His reply, should He speak it?
Have you asked The Lord for a miracle, and believe that He really could bring it to pass?
Can Jesus impart new knowledge and wisdom into you? Do you give Him the space to speak, or do you simply allot Him the leftover seconds in your day?
Do you have the time to pray? Do you have the time to seek His face (which is not the same as simple prayer)?
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14
Notice the separation in this verse between "pray" and "seek my face" - those are 2 distinct endeavors. I can pray but never seek the face of God.
The wording there tells you something: can I "seek His face" without being willing to look in His direction? Can I seek His face without wanting to know what He likes and what He wants for me?
Can I draw near into the thick darkness where God is, as Moses did back in the Book of Exodus? Or, will I draw back and refuse His voice, as Israel did in that same passage?
"And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was."
- Exodus 20:18-21
What did God SAY here, exactly, that offended Israel enough to refuse God's voice? That's the strangest part. The first 17 verses of Exodus chapter 20 are The 10 Commandments!
Let that sink in - the 10 commandments were offensive to sinful ears. If we aren't serious about The Lord, even His simplest statements can push us away.
So, I ask you: will you receive His word even if it's hard?
Will you say what King Hezekiah said when he got bad news from The Prophet, "The word of The LORD is good"?
Will you ask His direction for your life? Will you tarry in prayer until He answers?
Dear reader, when was the last time you heard from God?
Can I draw near into the thick darkness where God is, as Moses did back in the Book of Exodus? Or, will I draw back and refuse His voice, as Israel did in that same passage?
"And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was."
- Exodus 20:18-21
What did God SAY here, exactly, that offended Israel enough to refuse God's voice? That's the strangest part. The first 17 verses of Exodus chapter 20 are The 10 Commandments!
Let that sink in - the 10 commandments were offensive to sinful ears. If we aren't serious about The Lord, even His simplest statements can push us away.
So, I ask you: will you receive His word even if it's hard?
Will you say what King Hezekiah said when he got bad news from The Prophet, "The word of The LORD is good"?
Will you ask His direction for your life? Will you tarry in prayer until He answers?
Dear reader, when was the last time you heard from God?
Amen! I pray every morning first thing & read His word. Can never go out without His protection & guidance. I also have been praying The "Lords Prayer". I pray for all in my life & especially for backsliders. Many times I feel so unworthy to come BOLDLY before His throne. Thankful for His blood. This life has not been easy, but HE is worth it! Watching for His return. while I bask in His presence.
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