Sharon and I love Pastor Rick and Sue Frederickson!!! What a gift to the people of southwestern Minnesota and beyond, like here at FGGAM! PTL! AMEN! This message from Pastor Rick will bless you so very much!
Listening for God’s voice
“My sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me. I know them, and they know Me.” John 10:27
I know my wife and son’s voices. And I can still hear my parent’s voices even though they have been gone for a while now. Why? Because throughout the years of challenge and love we talked and I listened and heard their voices. They spoke to me in very personal and real ways. It was and is a natural part of my life.
God wants to communicate with you in a real and personal way. He wants you to hear His voice and know Him. He wants to lead you to the good things He has in store for you. Talking with God and hearing from Him should be the natural way that we live.
We talk to God and hear His voice in many ways.
One man was asked how he learned to hear from God and he answered, “By making a lot of mistakes.” Yes, God often speaks to us by giving us ideas of what we need to do in order to solve problems that we have. Listen and hear.
At other times we find that we either have or don’t have peace about a direction we are ready to take. He speaks through His Word, and at times speaks through other people. God will communicate with you in a way that is comfortable and right for you. Listen and hear.
Of course it is most important that you are willing to listen for Him. This means you must open your heart to Him through daily prayer. It means you must worship Him regularly. It means that you must spend time reading His word and meditating on it. Listen and hear.
God doesn’t need these things to communicate with you. Jesus is always reaching out to you. God’s spirit dwells in you. It is we who need prayer, worship and His word in order to open our hearts to hear Him more clearly.
Lent provides a wonderful opportunity for hearing. It is a time of reflection and repentance. It other words, it is a time to listen, and to obey.
As we enter Holy week and the Passion of Jesus and come to Easter morning, God will bring us closer and mold us into the people He wants us to be. We can become people who reflect the image of Jesus. If we hear Him.
I don’t always hear perfectly, and neither will you. However I have learned that being guided by God in my daily life is an exciting and powerful way for me to live. It is everlasting life that is fresh and new and beautiful each day.
If we listen and hear then God will indeed prepare and renew us. And as His new creations our joy on Easter morning will everlasting joy.
Hear God’s voice and listen to Him. He knows you. Know Him.
—
Rick Frederickson, Pastor
