But My people did not listen to My voice,
And Israel did not obey Me.
So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart,
To walk by their own plans.
Oh that My people would listen to Me,
That Israel would walk in My ways!
I would quickly subdue their enemies
And turn My hand against their adversaries.
Those who hate the Lord would pretend to obey Him,
And their time of punishment would be forever.
But I would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you. Psalm 81:11-16
How deep are the scriptures? How complex is their design? How potent is the Word of God? How are they understood? Who can learn how to interpret them correctly?
But a natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14
Have you learned to discern the Voice of God? Can you recognize it? Where does the Holy Spirit now reside?
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 1 Corinthians 6:19
Can you recognize His voice within you? Do you have a record and a history of what He has said to you? Or do you question everything He has told you? Have you ‘worked out’, and developed that relationship with the Holy Spirit to the point that you now quickly recognize His voice in your mind? What will happen if we don’t learn to recognize His voice within us? Reread the opening scripture.
Learning to listen to Him is a lifetime process. Learning to walk out His very personal specific instructions to you will take a selfless humility and obedience. To really be obedient to Him …you will have to leave behind your ‘preferences’, and opinions. You will have to leave behind what you have learned from the world, and embrace the Holy Spirit with passionate fervor and diligence.
When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:11-12
Why is learning this ability to “hear” Him so important? Won’t my religious rituals and rehearsed prayers save me? Won’t my Sunday service attendance prove my righteousness to God?
And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Matthew 6:7
Which do you think is more important? Rituals? Or His Voice? Which one of those would describe your relationship with God? Again … why is this important? Will you be ready when facing severe trials?
And when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you at that time; for you are not the ones speaking, but it is the Holy Spirit. Mark 13:11
How can you say what the Holy Spirit gives you “at that time” if you haven’t learned to hear Him before that trial? Religious ritual is …easy. Learning to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit with clarity takes a …deep long-term relationship over many years. Don’t pretend. Don’t perform. Don’t rely on ritual. Put yourself in a position to hear Him and to actually … listen.
Father… Your Word is most precious to me. Jesus… plant Your Word in my heart and soul. Holy Spirit I WANT to HEAR YOU! Help me hear YOU better!