Reflections from Luke 2:48-50

In Luke 2:48 Mary asked Christ a question.  In verse 49, Christ gave her an answer.  Verse 50 tells us, however, that she didn't understand the answer He supplied.  So there you have it: we might ask Christ a question and receive an answer, though we still may not understand the answer - until later.  Maybe much later.  

On another note, Jesus had to be about his Father's business (v. 48).  I just want to be about God. Not about titles, or positions.  Not about ministry. Not about my own agenda and to do's. Not about me at all.  If anything could be said about me may it be that I was about God.

Twelve Points to Hearing the Voice of God

If you know the Lord, you have already heard His voice - it is that inner leading that brought you to Him in the first place.  Jesus always checked with His Father (John 8:26-29) and so should we; hearing the voice of the heavenly Father is a basic right of every child of God.  Here are twelve points to hearing the voice of God.

1. Don't make guidance complicated.  It's actually hard not to hear God if you really want to please and obey HIm.  If you stay humble, He promises to guide you (Proverbs 16:9). Here are three simple steps to hear God's voice: (A) Submit to His Lordship.  Ask him to help you silence your own thoughts, desires, and the opinions of others, which may be filling your mind (2 Cor. 10:5).  Even though you have been given a good mind to use, right now you want to hear the thoughts of the Lord, who has the best mind (Prov. 3:5-6). (B) Resist the enemy, in case he is trying to deceive you at this moment.  Use the authority which Jesus Christ has given you to silence the voice of the enemy (James 4:7; Eph. 6:10-20). (C) Expect an answer.  After asking the question that is on your mind, wait for Him to answer. Expect your loving heavenly Father to speak to you. He will (John 10:27; Ps. 69:13; Ex. 33:11).
2. Allow God to speak to you in the way He chooses.  Don't try to dictate to Him concerning the guidance methods you prefer.  He is Lord-you are His servant (1 Sam. 3:9).  So listen with a yielded heart; there is a direct link between yieldedness and hearing.  He may choose to speak to you: Through His Word: This could come in your daily reading, or He could guide you to a particular verse (Ps. 119:105).  Through an audible voice (Ex. 3:4). Through dreams (Matt. 2) and visions (Is. 6:1, Rev. 1:12-17). But probably the most common of all means in through the quiet inner voice (Is. 30:21).
3. Confess any unforgiven sin.  A clean heart in necessary if you want to hear the voice of God (Ps. 66:18).
4. Use the Axehead Principle-a term coined from the story of 2 Kings 6.  If you seem to have lost your way, go back to the last time you knew the sharp, cutting edge of God's voice. Then obey.  The key question is:  Have you obeyed the last thing God told you to do?
5. Get your own leading.  God will use others to confirm your guidance, but you should also hear from Him directly.  It can be dangerous to rely on others to get the word of the Lord for you (1 Kings 13).
6. Don't talk about your guidance until God gives you permission to do so.  Sometimes this happens immediately; at other times, there is a delay.  The main purpose of waiting is to avoid four pitfalls of guidance: (A) pride, because God has spoken something to you; (B) presumption, by speaking before you have full understanding; (C) missing God's timing and method; (D) bringing confusion to others; they, too, need prepared hearts (Luke 9:36; Ecc. 3:7; Mark 5:19).
7. Use the Wise Men Principle.  Just as the Three Wise Men individually followed the star and in doing so, were all led to the same Christ, so God will often use two or more spiritually sensitive people to confirm what He is telling you (2 Cor. 13:1).
8. Beware of counterfeits.  Have you ever heard of a counterfeit dollar bill?  Yes, of course. But have you ever heard of a counterfeit paper bag?  No.  The reason is, only things of value are worth counterfeiting.  Satan has a counterfeit for everything of God that is possible for him to copy (Acts. 8:9-11; Ex. 7:22).  Counterfeit guidance comes, for example, through Quija boards, seances, fortunetelling, and astrology (Lev. 20:6, 19:26; 2 Kings 21:6).  The guidance of the Holy Spirit leads you closer to Jesus and into true freedom.  Satan's guidance leads you away from God into bondage.  One key test for true guidance: Does your leading follow principles of the Bible?  The Holy Spirit never contradicts the Word of God.
9. Opposition of man is sometimes guidance from God (Acts 21:10-14).  The important thing here, again, is yieldedness to the Lord (Dan. 6:6-23; Acts. 4:18-21).  Rebellion is never of God, but sometimes He asks you to step away from your elders in a way that is not rebellion, but part of His plan.  Trust that He will show your heart the difference.
10. Every follower of Jesus has a unique ministry (1 Cor. 12; 1 Pet. 4:10-11; Rom. 12; Eph. 4). The more you seek to hear God's voice in detail, the more effective you will be in your own calling. Guidance is not a game-it is serious business where we learn what God wants us to do in ministry and how He wants us to do it.  The will of God is doing and saying the right thing in the right place, with the right people, at the right time, and in the right sequence, under the right leadership, using the right method, with the right attitude of heart.
11. Practice hearing God's voice and it becomes easier.  It's like picking up the phone and recognizing the voice of your best friend...you know his voice because you have heard it so much.  Compare young Samuel with the older man Samuel (1 Sam. 3:4-7; 8:7-10; 12:11-18).
12. Relationship is the most important reason for hearing the voice of the Lord.  God is not only infinite, but personal.  If you don't have communication, you don't have a personal relationship with Him.  True guidance is getting closer to the Guide.  We grow to know the Lord better as He speaks to us and, as we listen to Him and obey, we make His heart glad (Ex. 33:11; Matt. 7:24-27).

Th Main Course

If you're anything like me, you enjoy eating.  Ever sit down to a multiple course meal?  It can be quite a journey.  Here in the "valley" the first course might consist of a bright bowl of chips and salsa, otherwise known as the appetizer. Perhaps then a salad, preluding to the main course which is coming...  I'm always in this attitude that "main" is out there, on hold, not now. We hurry through the courses of life in anticipation of what's next only to find ourselves unsatisfied with the current course before us.  I on the other hand tend to long for the course just after main - the dessert.  Yes you heard it right, my palate is completely and utterly vulnerable to the taste of something sweet.  That's my struggle, living for the future.  But to the master chef every course is main - in presentation, in taste, in texture.  To God each course, transition or season in our life is just as important as the next .  He does not view seasons as boring and unfortunate preludes to be rushed through quickly so I can move on to some other season that is more productive or exciting. Main is not behind us.  Nor is main way out ahead of us.  To our God, this course, call it transition, further studies, unexpected illness, financial crisis, grief, or a desert - is as full of potential as any course ever has been and any course ever will be.   

Be Still and Know God

"Have you ever felt overlooked?  Have you ever moved or entered a new environment where no one knew who you were, what you could do or what dreams ignited your soul?  Have you ever crossed the threshold into another season of life, where you shifted from recognition to anonymity, from standing as a leader to sitting as a leader again?  Have you resigned or retired from a position and transitioned from being sought out to left out, celebrated to celebrating others?"

A season of stillness has enveloped me these last few months and I presume will continue to do so until the Lord has brought this season in my life to fruition.  I'm one that's quick to make plans for the next phase, the next event, the next chapter in life.  It's the "plan-ahead, control freak" in me that can't stand the unknown, unfinished, unanswered questions that tend to consume "next". But I have found when a moment to be waited is prematurely interrupted, the results are less than hoped for, therefore I must be still and Know God.  Waiting actually grants us the strength to wait a little longer and not rush God's plans for our lives.