For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. (Job 33:14 ESV)
I have spent a good portion of my life listening to and hearing the voice of God. It is an ongoing journey. There have been times that I was able to get it exactly right and then there were times that I "missed" His voice and leadings which led me into much turmoil and suffering. Often, when we miss God's will, we end up losing time, money and energy.
So how do we know that we've heard from God? How do we know that we are in God's will? I've always used a three-part approach 1- God's Word 2- Inward Response, and 3- Outward Circumstances.
When these three are in alignment, I then know that I'm in God's perfect will.
1- God's Word
What does God's Word have to say about this? Does what I want to line up with scriptures? Is there anything in scriptures that forbid me to do what I'm about to do?
2- Inward Response
What do I feel in my gut? Do I feel ok about what is before me? Does my wife feel ok about it? Are we in agreement? Also, when it is a very important decision - how do the church elders and pastors feel about this?
3- Outward circumstances.
This is really important. Am I trying force the door open? Am I trying to make something happen? Or, are the doors opening naturally and without difficulty?
I've always like this story and I think you will also...
A terrible storm came into a town and local officials sent out an emergency warning that the riverbanks would soon overflow and flood the nearby homes. They ordered everyone in the town to evacuate immediately.
A faithful Christian man heard the warning and decided to stay, saying to himself, “I will trust God and if I am in danger, then God will send a divine miracle to save me.”
The neighbors came by his house and said to him, “We’re leaving and there is room for you in our car, please come with us!” But the man declined. “I have faith that God will save me.”
As the man stood on his porch watching the water rise up the steps, a man in a canoe paddled by and called to him, “Hurry and come into my canoe, the waters are rising quickly!” But the man again said, “No thanks, God will save me.”
The floodwaters rose higher pouring water into his living room and the man had to retreat to the second floor. A police motorboat came by and saw him at the window. “We will come up and rescue you!” they shouted. But the man refused, waving them off saying, “Use your time to save someone else! I have faith that God will save me!”
The flood waters rose higher and higher and the man had to climb up to his rooftop.
A helicopter spotted him and dropped a rope ladder. A rescue officer came down the ladder and pleaded with the man, "Grab my hand and I will pull you up!" But the man STILL refused, folding his arms tightly to his body. “No thank you! God will save me!”
Shortly after, the house broke up and the floodwaters swept the man away and he drowned.
When in Heaven, the man stood before God and asked, “I put all of my faith in You. Why didn’t You come and save me?”
And God said, “Son, I sent you a warning. I sent you a car. I sent you a canoe. I sent you a motorboat. I sent you a helicopter. What more were you looking for.
A faithful Christian man heard the warning and decided to stay, saying to himself, “I will trust God and if I am in danger, then God will send a divine miracle to save me.”
The neighbors came by his house and said to him, “We’re leaving and there is room for you in our car, please come with us!” But the man declined. “I have faith that God will save me.”
As the man stood on his porch watching the water rise up the steps, a man in a canoe paddled by and called to him, “Hurry and come into my canoe, the waters are rising quickly!” But the man again said, “No thanks, God will save me.”
The floodwaters rose higher pouring water into his living room and the man had to retreat to the second floor. A police motorboat came by and saw him at the window. “We will come up and rescue you!” they shouted. But the man refused, waving them off saying, “Use your time to save someone else! I have faith that God will save me!”
The flood waters rose higher and higher and the man had to climb up to his rooftop.
A helicopter spotted him and dropped a rope ladder. A rescue officer came down the ladder and pleaded with the man, "Grab my hand and I will pull you up!" But the man STILL refused, folding his arms tightly to his body. “No thank you! God will save me!”
Shortly after, the house broke up and the floodwaters swept the man away and he drowned.
When in Heaven, the man stood before God and asked, “I put all of my faith in You. Why didn’t You come and save me?”
And God said, “Son, I sent you a warning. I sent you a car. I sent you a canoe. I sent you a motorboat. I sent you a helicopter. What more were you looking for.
May God give you perfect understanding about what His perfect will is in your life. May you be a student of God's ways and His leadings in all aspects. May you have perfect peace on your journey ahead.
For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. (Job 33:14 ESV)
I have spent a good portion of my life listening to and hearing the voice of God. It is an ongoing journey. There have been times that I was able to get it exactly right and then there were times that I "missed" His voice and leadings,which led me into much turmoil and suffering. Often, when we miss God's will, we end up losing time, money and energy.
So how do we know that we've heard from God? How do we know that we are in God's will? I've always used a three-part approach 1- God's Word 2- Inward Response, and 3- Outward Circumstances.
When these three are in alignment, I then know that I'm in God's perfect will.
1- God's Word
What does God's Word have to say about this? Does what I want to line up with scriptures? Is there anything in scriptures that forbid me to do what I'm about to do?
2- Inward Response and
What do I feel in my gut? Do I feel ok about what is before me? Does my wife feel ok about it? Are we in agreement? Also, when it is a very important decision - how do the church elders and pastors feel about this?
3- Outward circumstances.
This is really important. Am I trying force the door open? Am I trying to make something happen? Or, are the doors opening naturally and without difficulty?
I've always like this story and I think you will also...
A terrible storm came into a town and local officials sent out an emergency warning that the riverbanks would soon overflow and flood the nearby homes. They ordered everyone in the town to evacuate immediately.
A faithful Christian man heard the warning and decided to stay, saying to himself, “I will trust God and if I am in danger, then God will send a divine miracle to save me.”
The neighbors came by his house and said to him, “We’re leaving and there is room for you in our car, please come with us!” But the man declined. “I have faith that God will save me.”
As the man stood on his porch watching the water rise up the steps, a man in a canoe paddled by and called to him, “Hurry and come into my canoe, the waters are rising quickly!” But the man again said, “No thanks, God will save me.”
The floodwaters rose higher pouring water into his living room and the man had to retreat to the second floor. A police motorboat came by and saw him at the window. “We will come up and rescue you!” they shouted. But the man refused, waving them off saying, “Use your time to save someone else! I have faith that God will save me!”
The flood waters rose higher and higher and the man had to climb up to his rooftop.
A helicopter spotted him and dropped a rope ladder. A rescue officer came down the ladder and pleaded with the man, "Grab my hand and I will pull you up!" But the man STILL refused, folding his arms tightly to his body. “No thank you! God will save me!”
Shortly after, the house broke up and the floodwaters swept the man away and he drowned.
When in Heaven, the man stood before God and asked, “I put all of my faith in You. Why didn’t You come and save me?”
And God said, “Son, I sent you a warning. I sent you a car. I sent you a canoe. I sent you a motorboat. I sent you a helicopter. What more were you looking for.
A faithful Christian man heard the warning and decided to stay, saying to himself, “I will trust God and if I am in danger, then God will send a divine miracle to save me.”
The neighbors came by his house and said to him, “We’re leaving and there is room for you in our car, please come with us!” But the man declined. “I have faith that God will save me.”
As the man stood on his porch watching the water rise up the steps, a man in a canoe paddled by and called to him, “Hurry and come into my canoe, the waters are rising quickly!” But the man again said, “No thanks, God will save me.”
The floodwaters rose higher pouring water into his living room and the man had to retreat to the second floor. A police motorboat came by and saw him at the window. “We will come up and rescue you!” they shouted. But the man refused, waving them off saying, “Use your time to save someone else! I have faith that God will save me!”
The flood waters rose higher and higher and the man had to climb up to his rooftop.
A helicopter spotted him and dropped a rope ladder. A rescue officer came down the ladder and pleaded with the man, "Grab my hand and I will pull you up!" But the man STILL refused, folding his arms tightly to his body. “No thank you! God will save me!”
Shortly after, the house broke up and the floodwaters swept the man away and he drowned.
When in Heaven, the man stood before God and asked, “I put all of my faith in You. Why didn’t You come and save me?”
And God said, “Son, I sent you a warning. I sent you a car. I sent you a canoe. I sent you a motorboat. I sent you a helicopter. What more were you looking for.
May God give you perfect understanding about what His perfect will is in your life. May you be a student of God's ways and His leadings in all aspects. May you have perfect peace on your journey ahead.
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