God Speaks to Us

Hebrews 1:1-2 (ESV)
¹  Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

We read of all the incredible miracles in the Bible, the Red Sea is parted as Moses raises up his rod, ten plagues were inflicted on Pharaoh’s Egypt, God created the heavens and the earth by only speaking.  But, is that how God speaks to us as today’s Christians?

There are lots of ways He speaks to us.  There are dreams, visions, the advice of a fellow Christian, and especially by His Word.  But, when we need to decide if God is leading us and the Bible doesn’t seem to give a clear answer, how do we know?

I have friends who wanted to be missionaries.  They prepared from their youth, trained, and were educated to do the job effectively.  They later discovered the mission field was not for them after all.  How can you spend so much time preparing for something God doesn’t want you to do?  God sometimes uses preparation for one thing to be applied somewhere else. 

My friend ended up with a Masters degree in theology.  Today, he’s a pastor blessing his congregation and those in the surrounding community.  His wife uses her education to home school their children and minister to others in their community. Sometimes God speaks to us like that.

Much of what I do to serve the Lord hasn’t come directly from my youth, though some has.  I have to say mostly God just nudges me to do something.  If there’s something I see that might further God’s kingdom, I wait for God’s nudge.  He tends not to be aggressive anymore to get me to do things.  He’s had to throw me up against the wall a couple of times over the years to spiritually get my attention, but He hasn’t had to lately. I like to think I’ve started to listen more.

That nudge toward something is what I depend on for His direction.  Let’s say I feel led to go on the mission field (which I don’t).  What’s the next step?  Pray, of course.  Then, if I still feel led, I might ask a few spiritually mature friends what they think.  If they think it’s God’s will, I might be tempted to sell everything and head on out, but I have a wife.  God has her phone number, too.  Is He telling her the same thing I think He’s telling me?  God is all for keeping marriages together, so if my wife doesn’t feel led to the mission field, that door is closed.  God is saying “no.”  Suppose she says, “Okay.”  Then maybe it’s time to sell everything, and it turns out you just can’t sell your house.  That could be a sign you’re misreading the nudge as well.  Step by step, take it slow. Rely on the Lord.

Why is this important?

If we act without God’s prompting, we may end up acting against His will.  What we do might turn someone away from the Truth and make it harder for the next brother or sister to witness to him.

God has a plan.  He wants to use each of us in it.  He doesn’t want to use only me or you, though.  He has individual jobs for each of us.  I have friends who are driven to walk the streets and tell people about Jesus.  That’s not my calling, though. And, they would never consider teaching a class or writing a blog either.  That’s not what God has equipped them to do. 

Just as God spoke to Elijah in that still small voice (1 Kings 19:9-12) He talks to each of us the same way.  So next time we feel God nudging us or whispering to us, we should take the first step toward completing what we believe God wants us to do, then the next step and the next.

Many times God asks us to do things that are outside of our skill set.  As has been said before, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.”  If God is calling us to do something, and it truly is God calling us, He will provide all that we need in skills and resources to accomplish His will.  He’s just happy to include you and me in His work.