When Man Listens, God Speaks
February 15th, 2008 | Michael Q. Pink
“LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble: You will prepare their heart, You will cause Your ear to hear.” (Psalm 10:17)
For quite some time now, I have needed a clear directive from God on something. I wanted His guidance to make a very difficult decision that I have been agonizing over for a very long time. Biblical verses lined up on both sides of the decision. Godly people faced with a similar decision have come down on both sides of this issue. Even principle seemed to be on both sides though pragmatism leaned more on one side. I didn’t know what to do and the decision carries significant, life altering ramifications. Ever been there?
I spent Monday afternoon walking in the woods, praying, but hearing nothing. My wife had ordered a book by Mary Geegh, a missionary to India most of her life, called God Guides, made available from PrayAmerica.org which we received in the mail Wednesday. The focus of the book is what she calls “listening prayer.” The premise being, “When man listens, God speaks; When man obeys, God acts; When God acts, men change.”
I realized that so much of my prayer time was me telling God stuff He already knew and there was very little deliberate effort to silence those things competing for my focus and simply wait in silence to hear from Him. There was no blog yesterday because when I set my heart to wait and listen, I began to hear. He brought to mind a story I had read in God Guides and I heard him say “Go and do likewise.”
That was truly an answer but I needed more so I asked Him to confirm this by telling me which verse that was. I heard a verse and indeed it was so. Because of the magnitude of this decision, I asked Him for another verse that dealt with this issue. Immediately He told me. Knowing what I had to do, I asked Him for one more, just to be double-dog sure. He gave it to me. Even though I had not wanted to make that choice, I obeyed right away… consuming the rest of my morning.
How this will unfold is unknown to me, but after years of struggling with this question, I had my answer. I would be foolish to disobey.
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February 15th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Michael,
I agree, many of my prayers have been too much about me and not enough about God. I thought everyone could use this. I found it on the internet years ago and it has helped me to strengthen my prayer life.
I have listed the 4 areas he mentions. It comes from Exodus 34 to 34.
The Effectual Revival Prayer of Moses by Richard Owen Roberts
Have you ever made a careful, systematic study of all the prayers in the Bible and of all the teaching on prayer that the Scriptures contain? Such a labor has the potential of dramatic, powerful personal good. I am in the process of just such a study. I began my labor by quickly going through the entire Bible and marking every passage pertaining to prayer. (While I would not urge my method upon you, it simply consisted of putting a red line down the right margin of every prayer passage.) This in itself was of very great usefulness in demonstrating to me afresh what a vital part of the heart of God the prayers of His people are. Now I have the delightful prospect before me of meditating on each of these marked passages and allowing my own heart and life to be shaped accordingly.
Obviously, while only a portion of the prayer passages bear on the theme of revival, I cannot in the space of one brief article even begin to deal with all of these. Let me then endeavor to draw your mind and heart into only one of these prayers that appears in four segments, the prayer pertaining to the revival under Moses found in Exodus thirty-two to thirty-four.
Bold Entreaty Based on God’s Reputation.
Second Segment:¬ Self-Sacrificing Intercession for God’s People
Third Segment:¬ Relentless Pleading for God’s Presence.
Fourth Segment:¬ Passionate Desire to See God’s Glory.
Oh, to pray as Moses prayed! Oh, to travail as Moses travailed! Oh, to be effectual in prayer as Moses was effectual! Surely, this is our duty! Amazingly, this is our privilege!
In Him,
Kern
February 15th, 2008 at 10:49 am
The Holy Spirit / God is so compassionate and precious.
Over and over again He bears witness through an unlimited variety of sourcesd that we are His, especially when we are pressed way beyond measure and pray and pray and pray and He is silent. (Because He is Sovereign and if He chooses to be silent for a season that is His perrogative.) However, I have found that He never has trouble speaking to us at just the right time and in just the way we personall need to hear and not mistake His voice.
I am in jus such a place as you have described Michael. And to date, God has not revealed His answer. However, I continue to pray with expectation and read His word and do what I know to do each day and trust Him as best I can.
This message is a confirmation of HOPE that God is still working, He hears the cry of my heart and in His time and way He will bring about all that is in His heart concerning my family and I. (As well as every one of His children who call on His name and trust in His unfailing love… even when our circumstances seem overwhelming contrary or don’t make sense.)
I will share in greater detail when I have time to put what I am referring to in writing.
God bless and thank you for sharing your heart.
February 15th, 2008 at 11:31 am
It has been my experience that God will speak as soon as we are ready to obey. And before this time is there, He is working in us to conform our will to His. He is protecting us from being disobedient. Have you noticed that as you are pressing into Him more and more, there comes an inner awakening, an inner reckoning: Am I really ready to do whatever He is telling me to do? Am I willing to do His will , no matter what? As soon as you can say “yes”, He will answer.
February 15th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Hey Mike,
It’s interesting that you brought up the critical issue of “Hearing the Voice of God” - since I’m participating in a 10-week Bible study of the same with
Mark Virkler of Communion with God Ministries.
Like you, the LORD has prompted me to pursue Him like I never have before - the twenty-five years of research and experience that Mark shares in his study is already paying dividends, as I apply the 4 principles
that come directly out of Habakkuk 2:1-3.
I’d be interested in your feedback - if in fact you’re not familiar with it as of yet.
Cheers!
February 15th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Michael,
I really appreciated your sharing the process you’ve been going through in your challenge to be making the right decisions. Whether you’re in business (we’re all in business) or in ministry (we’re all in ministry), knowing that you’re walking in obedience to God helps you walk through the difficult times of transition that are required to get from where we are to where God is leading us. Of course, it’s hard to obey when you haven’t taken the time to seek God’s leading! LOL!
Thanks for the reminder today.
Expect success!
Stevie Knight
February 15th, 2008 at 1:50 pm
A very timely word…. many are entering a time for which we have never seen before.. knowing the Lords direction will be “Keys” to where, when and how we navigate ..”be still and know I’m God”
February 15th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
This is truly how GOD will download to us the superior answers we are seeking that will transform our areas of influence and reclaim the 7 mountains for the Kingdom.
The world is waiting for us to provide the God inspired solutions - and all we have to do is listen and obey. Cool, I can do that!
Thanks for sharing from your heart Michael, you’re a blessing to the Saints.
Joseph.
February 15th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
Recently before starting my devotions, I wrote down what I discerned God was saying, “First of all today listen to me.” The reading which was to be my focus on a calendar of scriptures for that day was John 10:27–”My sheep hear my voice”, which I had not read prior to writing what I felt He was saying. In the midst of my devotions, I heard “oil change”. We were to leave on a 1000 mile trip. I asked my husband, “Do we need an oil change? He checked and discovered that we were actually 1000 miles past the appropriate mileage for the oil change. God is interested in every detail of our lives. What a blessing!
February 15th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
I encourage you to continue to RUN with what HE tells you to do in the stillness of your heart. It will never fail you when you listen to Him. He is our Abba Father and He knows it all from beginning to end.
I had a situation many years ago that was life changing to my life as I knew it. There wasn’t a thing that anyone or anything could do to remove it. It was a major mess and I was a mess over it.
One day on my way to work; I literally had a vision at a stop light. I saw this HUGE MOUNTAIN and that mountain represented my problem. I felt the Holy Spirit speak to my heart with these words…”Debbie, you can’t move this mountain that is in your life right now, BUT I can teach you how to WALK over it IF you’ll just trust Me.”
That vision was LIFE CHANGING for me. The Lord did just that….He helped me to walk over it in ways I never knew. Today, I enjoy the fruits of many good things because of that vision and being willing to allow the Lord to change me and help me.
He is a faithful God. Look for His whispers…thanks for sharing this site with all of us out here.
February 16th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
It’s very easy to sit/or walk the floor praying and interceeding for my needs or the needs of others, but, to calm my racing mind, and listen, is something my Father is trying to teach me.
Is there a book out there that teaches that?
February 16th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Maidena,
You may want to check out “How to Hear God’s Voice” study by
Mark Virkler of Communion with God Ministries at:
www.cwgministries.org.
It 4 core listening principles are derived from Habakkuk 2:13
and results with Deuteronomy 5:24 … which says -
“We have heard His voice… We have seen this day that God speaks with man.”
February 16th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Correction - I meant Habakkuk 2:1-3
Cheers!
February 16th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Great M.! Most of us either hurry through our ‘prayer’ by getting right to the point of OUR needs, without ever focusing on Father God’s need to speak to us, His children.
Just a thought…70% of our prayer time, communicating with God, should be made up of praise, worship, thanksgiving, and listening. This is 70% focusing on Him, not us. The other 30% should be us talking, first interceeding for other people as the Holy Spirit lays a burden on our hearts and finally, us petitioning for our specific (very important) needs. The next time you spend 15-minutes in prayer try 5-minutes in praise, worship, and thanksgiving-5 in intercession and petition-5 or more in listening(clearing your mind of all thoughts and distractions) You will be amazed at what happens, just like M.P. shared with us! Hope this blesses someone. All-In His Love and For His Glory, j.
February 17th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Maidena,
another, biblical approach is to direct your mind by meditating on some scripture. For example, you may say to yourself softly: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart ..”, and ponder this gently. When your mind wanders off, softly say again “Trust in the Lord with all your heart ..” (this scripture is just an example, use a scripture that actually speaks to what is on your heart). Ask the Lord to open you heart to it, and He will begin to speak to you, and it can be in different ways. If spontaneous thoughts caome to you about your topic, write them down as Mark Virkler suggests, and you can ponder and verify them later.
February 18th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Could you describe your day when you were “waiting on God”? How was it different than when you were walking in the woods? In the past when I have tried this, I either can’t turn off my racing mind or I end up taking a nap.
Could you offer some practical guidance?
February 18th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
thank you Michael for sharing your hear. I am exactly there - need to hear the Lord for something that matters a lot to me. I will take more silent moment with my creator - thanks again
February 19th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
This is simply amazing , “for such a time as this”.. many of us are experiencing what appears to be the SAME challenge !!
My challenge started in December 2006 and I STILL have NOT seen deliverance..
I study every morning..prayer time IS challenging..I’m working on it…
and PRAISE & WORSHIP, I believe I need to experience more of….it all boils down to me and I ask the Lord for his patience and continued guidiance EXPECTING deliverance.. every minute of the day. Stay CALM and know HE is with us. I am very peaceful despite the “appearance” of my trial., which I have taken my EYES OFF. I know deep in my heart , the LORD LOVES me, and is making a warrior out of me for a future ASSIGNMENT. He’s “taking out the IMPERFECTIONS IN ME” I’m READY !!!! Try FASTING & PRAYER ALSO…
Blessings to you all and STAY FOCUSED/PRAISE HIM !!!!
In His Love ..Paula
February 20th, 2008 at 9:21 am
This is Michael’s finest piece. Please get the book “God Guides” and use it as a conversation starter with our compassionate and loving God who longs for us to invest our entire day in His presence - with extraordinary encounters with Him through meetings with clients, projects, our spouses, our kids, neighbors, etc…. God has used the testimonies of this woman and the Indian people in her spehere of influence to shake my American sense of self-abosorption.
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
April 9th, 2008 at 12:02 am
The world is waiting for us to provide the God inspired solutions - and all we have to do is listen and obey. Cool, I can do that!