A Devotional Thought.
Have you heard this piece of marriage advice for husbands? If your wife comes home talking about the problems she had that day, your job is NOT to solve her problems. Your job is to LISTEN. Guys, that can be hard for many of us. Because we usually want to find ways to fix things that are broken. But at that moment, our wives really just need to know we care and are there for them. IF they ask for help...then we can help solve the problem. What do you think? Husbands. Wives. Have you found this to be true? One of the speakers at the "Salt & Light" conference I attended was Pastor Chris Hodges from Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama. He said, "The way to solve your problems is not to solve your problems. It's to have someone in your life greater than your problems". That's a good reminder. I love how The Message paraphrase puts the following verses.
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
-2 Corinthians 4:16-18, The Message
Do you have any problems? I know I do. I'm grateful that God listens and cares. But He's also greater than your problems.
"Let My People Go" Part 2. Sermon Recap. (sorry, Part 1 recap is not available).
Message: How to Hear God When No One is Listening.
Scripture: Exodus 3.
Key Verse: “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” -Exodus 3:5, NIV
Just as God spoke to Moses, God speaks to us today. He desires to give us those direction changing moments.
1. God Speaks On Weekdays Too (3:1).
2. When God Speaks, Ordinary Things Can Become Extra-Ordinary (3:2).
3. The Way God Speaks Makes You Listen (3:2-3).
4. When God Speaks, Reverence Should Follow (3:5).
5. God Doesn't Need to Speak to Us, But He Does (3:5).
How to hear God’s voice?
1. Receive Jesus. Take away the biggest barrier: our sin.
2. Get rid of distractions. “Is this helping or hindering?"
3. Practice listening. It’s ok to make mistakes.
God is real. God is active. God is speaking.
What is He saying? How will you respond?
Question for Reflection
Does God still use the miraculous (like a burning bush) to speak to people today, or was that just in Bible times?
I welcome your comments.
-Jason