Do you think all God wants are sacrifices—
empty rituals just for show?
He wants you to listen to Him!
Plain listening is the thing,
not staging a lavish religious production.
Not doing what God tells you
is far worse than fooling around in the occult.
Getting self-important around God
is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors.
Because you said No to God’s command,
He says No to your kingship. 1 Samuel 15:22-23 (The Message)
What are your goals for the coming year? Do any of them include ‘listening to God’ and ‘obeying Him’? Do any of them include asking God what He wants you to do? Maybe all of our regimented fancy religious ‘efforts’ / Church service attendance isn’t enough for God. Maybe He wants more from us. Maybe He wants more than ‘three songs and listening to a sermon’ as your weekly ‘sacrifice’ to Him. Maybe God wants to be your King and Lord rather than what you think should happen. Who do you think knows more and what is best for you? How much do you actually pursue Him? How much do you actually ‘wait’ for Him? Saul didn’t wait – and it cost him greatly. Saul just did what he thought God wanted. How did that work out for him? Do you have a type of Samuel in your close circle of friends? Do you ever sit down and discuss with trusted spiritually mature friends your plans? Or do you always know best? Do you take all of the advice from others and your plans and present them to the Lord with ‘open hands’? Have your learned to discern the Holy Spirit’s voice in your life? Can you hear Him in your busy / overly noisy mind? Can you discern His ‘still small voice’ within you? If there is difficulty with that issue maybe that should be your goal for this year … to recognize His voice with greater clarity and certainty.
Your most simple goal this year: LISTEN TO GOD.
Obviously, this has some implications: That you can actually recognize His voice … to you personally, and regularly. That you actually WANT to hear from God. That you actually ask for His advice and plans for you. That you actually set aside time to pursue and wait for Him. How much do you really want God in your daily life? Or is Sunday morning enough for you? How much time do you actually give the Holy Spirit in your life?
How important do you think it is that you can discern the voice of the Holy Spirit within you? How important are God’s personal instructions to you? Or do you still view God as an ‘impersonal’ God who doesn’t really care about you? Before you get offended by that last question – ask yourself… do your actions actually confirm your heart on this issue and what you believe? How much real humility is in your heart towards God?
Father – WE NEED YOU! Come Holy Spirit and speak to us! Help us to clear away ANY hindrances in our lives that keep us from hearing you. This coming year I want to hear you better than I did last year. I want to obey you with everything I have and do. We give everyone and everything to you Lord Jesus.