LIVING BY THE VOICE OF GOD (Part I)

LIVING BY THE VOICE OF GOD (Part I)

If you and I ever hope to achieve ultimate success in this life on the level that GOD has designed for us – whether it be spiritual, emotional, physical, or material results – we simply have to become ‘tuned-in’ and ‘turned-on’ by THE VOICE [THE WORD] OF OUR GOD.

According to our Lord and Master-Teacher, JESUS CHRIST, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceeds out of THE MOUTH OF GOD.” (Matthew 4:4)  Think seriously.  Whose voice are you truly hearing?  Whose voice are you internalizing and enacting in your daily decision-making?  WHO is really in charge of your life?

The Psalmist-King David declared, “The Lord KNOWS the way of the righteous.” (Psalm 1:6)  How is it, we might wonder, that God seems to be absolutely familiar with the footsteps of true believers?  The answer is obvious.  According to the teachings of scripture, “the steps of a good man are ORDERED BY THE LORD.” (Psalm 37:23)  Beyond God’s apparent omniscience, every one of a true disciple’s footsteps are a known quantity to HIM – since HE had designed and directed them in the first place!

Nevertheless, following God’s path is no easy task for us, especially in an age when we come under such diverse and difficult pressure to conform, to fit in, to assimilate the values of the larger society.  There are so many voices – strong and enticing voices – that call out to us hour-by-hour, moment-by-moment.  The secret of success is learning how to filter out any and all voices that do not come into agreement with our primary spiritual objective: to love, learn and live by the voice of Almighty God.

What I am about to say might push you a bit, but seriously consider it anyway.  Sometimes we actually lie on God, simply because we are guilty of lying to ourselves and about ourselves.  There is an intriguing story of a little girl who was on her way home from a special program at school.  Her parents had carefully instructed Cindy not to soil or damage her beautiful new dress.  But since she was a child and loved to play, she made a bad choice and diverted from the pathway home to take a detour to the playground.  Predictably, she ruined her pretty new dress!

When she got home, the now fearful little girl was somewhat creative in her explanation about the soiled and tattered condition of her dress.  At the doorway, her Dad inquired “Cindy, what happened?  We told you not to play in your new dress!”  In response, Cindy spilled out the first thought that leaped into her mind: “Daddy, I was coming straight home, just like you and Mommy told me, when a LION ran out of the woods and started chasing after me.  So I fell down in the mud and messed up my new dress!”

Dad looked Cindy straight in the eye.  “Cindy, that’s a RIDICULOUS LIE!  You go straight to your room and PRAY.  Stay there unto you hear from THE LORD about what He thinks about lying and liars.”  Dutifully, little Cindy headed to her room and knelt down to pray.  Fifteen minutes later, Cindy ran down the stairs with a huge smile on her face.  She strolled right up to her father and said, “Daddy, GOD said it’s o.k. because (at first) HE thought it was lion too!”

Obviously folks, Cindy was lyin’ about the lion and NOT hearing or living by THE VOICE OF GOD!  It’s an all too familiar story.  Many people SAY they are hearing from God regarding their daily activities, but their routine and results strongly suggest something else!  One thing we can be sure of is this: OUR GOD does not speak out of two sides of His mouth!  In other words, whenever GOD speaks to us, through whatever channels He speaks to us, there are clear-cut scriptural confirmations that provide assurance that we are indeed hearing and embracing the perfect will of God.

Question: ARE YOU LIVING BY THE VOICE OF THE ALL-WISE GOD, or are you more attentive to the values and views of yourself, or others? 

Stay tuned…more to come tomorrow!

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET YOUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!