How can we "listen carefully to His voice" in our daily lives? His Call to Careful Listening “ ‘But if you listen carefully to His voice and do everything I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and a foe to your foes.’ ” (Exodus 23:22) Why Listening Matters Every Day • God’s instructions bring life and protection (Deuteronomy 30:19–20). • Obedience is the evidence that we truly know Him (John 14:23). • Our battles are won or lost by whether we receive and apply His Word (2 Chronicles 20:15–17). Ways the Lord Still Speaks • Scripture—His forever-settled Word (2 Timothy 3:16–17). • The indwelling Holy Spirit, guiding in line with Scripture (John 16:13). • Wise, godly counsel (Proverbs 11:14). • Providential circumstances that confirm His written Word (Acts 16:6–10). • The inner witness of peace when decisions align with His will (Colossians 3:15). Practical Steps to Tune Our Ears 1. Schedule Daily Word Time – Read, meditate, and reread until a verse grips your heart (Psalm 119:97). 2. Pray Back What You Read – Turn the passage into dialogue: “Lord, You say… help me obey…” (Jeremiah 33:3). 3. Practice Stillness – Set brief intervals of silence, asking Him to search and speak (Psalm 46:10). 4. Journal Impressions – Date, write, and later test them against Scripture; real guidance stands the test of time (1 Thessalonians 5:21). 5. Obey Immediately – Light obeyed brings more light (James 1:22); hesitation dulls hearing (Hebrews 3:15). Guardrails That Keep Us on Track • Never accept a “word” that contradicts the Bible (Galatians 1:8). • Refuse the pull of cultural voices that celebrate sin (Romans 12:2). • Submit impressions to mature believers for confirmation (Proverbs 27:17). • Keep short accounts with God; unconfessed sin muffles His voice (Psalm 66:18). Blessings Tied to Careful Listening • Divine opposition to our enemies (Exodus 23:22). • Clear direction in confusing seasons (Proverbs 3:5–6). • Fellowship marked by joy and assurance (John 15:10–11). • Fruitfulness that attracts others to Christ (Psalm 1:1–3). Common Competing Voices • Fleshly desires promising quick gratification (Galatians 5:17). • Fear and anxiety forecasting worst-case scenarios (Isaiah 41:10). • The enemy’s subtle half-truths (Genesis 3:1; John 8:44). Identify, reject, and replace these with the unchanging Word. Daily Listening Checklist □ Did I start in Scripture, not social media? □ Did I pause to let the passage read me? □ Did I note any prompt to act, reconcile, give, or speak? □ Did I obey today’s light without delay? □ Did I thank Him for yesterday’s guidance and today’s mercies? Listening carefully is not a one-time event but a lifestyle. Cultivate it, guard it, and watch the faithful Lord fulfill every promise attached to a heart that heeds His voice. |
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