Pray that this will help others as it has helped me
Bless you,
Joyce
Growing to Hear Him Better
MATTHEW 17:5
Our ability to hear the Lord is directly related to our relationship with Him. For example, an unbeliever can hear only one message from God--the call to repentance and salvation in Jesus Christ. If this vital step has not been taken, nothing else God does or says to that person will make a difference.
But what about believers? How does a Christian's closeness with God impact his or her listening? This is primarily an issue of identification. Once we receive Christ as Savior, then we certainly have salvation and are eternally secure in Him. But beyond that, God wants us to grow and mature in our faith.
We grow in Christ by identifying ourselves more and more with Jesus. That continual identification brings us closer to God. And so, when we pray, we are not praying to some cold and distant god "out there somewhere." Instead, we are praying to a God who loves us, sustains us, and molds us into His own image.
That changes how we approach Him, doesn't it? Instead of crawling face down before Him, mourning and wailing because of our sin and pleading for His mercies, we can come to Him boldly and joyfully, assured that He loves us, forgives us, and rejoices in our prayers.
When we have unimpeded fellowship with the Father, we definitely hear Him better. As we grow closer to Him, our spiritual hearing continues to improve. Through Jesus, we can have unimaginable intimacy and clear two-way communication with almighty God. Let the Lord know that is your desire.
That's both beautiful and quite true, Joyce. We will hopefully always sorrow for our sins, because Jesus had to bear them - we lay our sinfullness upon Him. But we can come to Him in confidence, just because He is SO merciful and gracious in Christ. Oh may we grow always closer to Him!
Amen and Amen to what Al said.
I was just thinking recently how it seems that I have to ask God to forgive me more now than in the past but it is not because I sin more now than before it's because as I grow closer to God I can hear that small still voice better now than before. Thank you Lord!
Don
That's a good word, Joyce.
I think that relates to what Jas. 4:8 says also - "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you". Just as in the natural realm, when someone is physically close to you, it's much easier to hear what they are saying than when they are 300 yards away.
The more we realize how loved and accepted we believers are by God because He sees us in/completely identified with His Son, the more excited we will be about spending the quality time in His presence that is necessary to improve our spiritual hearing.