Listen For His Input

Listen For His Input

 

Key Principles to Understand

Look for His direction for your life (Gifts and Passions)

  • He has an individualized plan for each of us.
    •  “all the days fashioned for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16)
  • The plan involves us somehow becoming useful to others.
    • “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works..” (Ephesians 2:10)
  • There are many ways to be useful
    • “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.” (1 Cor 12:4)
  • We have been given natural gifts, talents / capabilities / things that come easily / things others see in us. Mental, Physical, Social
    • “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”.James 1:17
  • We have been given affections, interests / passions / things that excite us / move us / give us fulfillment
    • “..for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13)
  • The combination of gifts (Talents and Capabilities) He put in your body, and the affections (Interests/Passions) He put deep in your heart are clues to His path for your life. 
  • Develop your gifts (Talents / Capabilites) – Invest time and energy to hone them so that they can be of use in what ever situaiton comes up over your lifetime.
  • Follow your passion, engage in that area with what ever opportunities arise. Your purpose lies in this area. It will become clear as you explore ways to be useful. 
  • Once you start moving down the path, he will guide your specific steps
    • “A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
    • “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.” (Psalm 37:23)
  • He gave us two key rules – Love God with all your heart, Love your neighbor as yourself
  • He expects us to use our gifts (talents/capabilities) to serve his kingdom (provide a return on his investment)
    • “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
  • Ask Hiim about your calling. You will be amazied at the answer.

Look for His hand in your life

  • Special People
  • Unique Places
  • Opportunities
  • Remarkable Timing

Note each of these in your journal, ask Him for insight and significance.

Ask him to help you see the path ahead

  • When faced with challenges – State your intention, purpose, and need, and Ask for his help to see the path 

Hear God’s Voice

  • He expects you to hear his voice
    • “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” John 10:27
  • He communicates in three direct ways
    • Thoughts
    • Images
    • Feelings
  • Ask Him to open the eyes of your heart
  • There ar four keys to hearing Gods voice.
    • Quiet your conscious mind
    • Focus on Jesus
      • Imagine Him in a bible scene – put yourself there with Him
    • Tune to Flow
      •  Become receptive to flow of thoughts coming into your mind.
      • “….Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38
    • Write
      • Write down what you receive
  • Check it
    • Compare what you recieve to the nature of God: Loving, Supportive, Councilling . It is God’s input to help you on your journey
  • Click Here to review a blog post speficially about heairng Gods voice.

Ask for a Word of Wisdom

  • There are several things the Holy Spirit will do for you once you receive Him.
  • He will teach us and guide us
    • “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” (John 14:26)
  • He provides information via spiritual gifts including a “Word of Wisdom”
  • The Holy Spirit will reveal all the mysteries of God to those who believe and are willing to ask and listen
    • ‘But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man
      The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”  But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.’ (1 Corinthians 9-12)
  • Click here to learn more about receiving and using a Word of Wisdom
  • Click here to see some examples where friends used words of wisdom to hear the Lord, see the path ahead, and build faith