Hearing God

When I lived in New York, this guy joined the church. He had scraggly hair, and dressed and smelled like he had just left a mosh pit at an all day heavy metal festival. He was an admitted  alcoholic that was trying to battle his inner demons.

I befriended him, because that's the kind of thing that Jesus would have done. Many times he called me after he had gone on a bender and I sat with him, talked with him, prayed with him.

He had a sincere desire to stop, but the voice of God was washed out by the familiar voices that were calling him to drink and to self destruction.

That's the problem with hearing God... you have to really listen. The voices in the world are always far louder, far more demanding. This... had been the problem throughout history. God says

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. (John 10:27 ESV)

however, if you ask any truthful Christian, they will tell you that they've thought they've heard the voice of God on multiple occasions, but didn't act on it, or in some cases, missed it altogether! This is from people who are chasing after the heart of God!

I think the challenge is to listen and to do. The more you listen, the easier it will be to hear... to move... to act. During this Christmas season, when so many things are pulling for our attention, let's find God in the stillness of his voice.

And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:11-13 ESV)