Category Archives: Hearing God’s Voice
Hearing God’s Voice
What God Yearns For — A Heart Inclined Toward Him
Reading: Deuteronomy 5 — 8
Scripture
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever! Deuteronomy 5:29 NIV
Observations
God so wants to bless us! He yearns for it. “Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me … that it might go well with them…”
If my heart is “inclined” toward him — to delight in him, to please him, to obey the promptings of his Spirit — and as I persist with this, God will release his blessing and favour into my life. This is his heart-felt desire and purpose, as expressed in his words above, but it is the inclination of my heart that determines how much his desire for me is fulfilled.
It's as though his desire to bless and bestow favour is pent up, just waiting for the opportunity to be let out. And the inclination of my heart is the key that opens the flood gates of his goodness. No wonder God wants my devotion!
So how do I incline my heart toward God?
Application
Inclination: A disposition or bent, especially of the mind or will; a liking or preference; to deviate from the horizontal or vertical; to lean or bend in a particular direction.
That definition brings to mind certain flowers that turn toward the sun. They don't just stand stock still, pointing straight upwards and unmoved by the sun's presence. Instead, the flower head turns toward the sun and follows it as it moves across the sky. As it does so, the stalk is compelled to bend as well, so that the whole plant becomes inclined toward its glorious source of life and nourishment.
The more closely and consistently that flower can orient itself toward the sun, the greater the “blessing” it receives.
It's the same with me. Not that I can earn God's blessing — it comes as a free gift — but that the degree to which my heart is turned towards him will actually determine how much he is able to bless me.
Prayer
Father, when I hear your heart's cry for me, I can't help but want to respond — to offer my life wholeheartedly into your hands; to offer to you alone my affection and my devotion. Holy Spirit, help me to hear your voice and feel your promptings. I want my mind and my heart to be fully and always oriented to Jesus, to enjoy his presence and to obey him.
Tuning In With God
Reading: Mark 13
Scripture
“Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ” Mark 13:35-37 (NIV)
Observations
Jesus is clearly concerned that some of us who have committed out lives to him will somehow be lost because we have “gone to sleep”. Even Jesus doesn't know the exact time of his return, but his warning suggests it could catch us by surprise if we are not watching.
Application
There is a certain amount of self discipline I require to maintain my relationship with Jesus. I need the Holy Spirit to help me, but I need to consciously “tune in” with him as often as I can think of it.
Daniel had a habit of tuning in with God three times every day. “Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God.” Daniel 6:10 I like this idea. I'm sure Daniel tuned in more often than three times a day, but by making these three times a part of his daily routine he safeguarded himself from “going to sleep” in his faith and remained alert, ready and available to serve his God.
How can I make purposeful “tuning in with God” a greater part of my daily routine? I already enjoy my morning 'snooze time' conversation with God before I get up. Perhaps I could tune in again when I clean my teeth, then with a 5-10 minute lunchtime walk, and in the evening with my “sneaking off with God” time. A short prayer template might be helpful to remind me to give thanks, to listen to God and to ask him for what I need.
Prayer
Jesus, I want to be ready and available to you every moment of the day and night. I know I sometimes get lost in my own thoughts, and might at times be oblivious to your Spirit prompting me, so please help me Holy Spirit to tune in. I want to truly know what it means to “Be joyful always, to pray continually, and to give thanks in all circumstances, knowing that this is (your) will for me in Christ Jesus.” (from 1Thess 5:16-18)