It's Not That Complicated - Joyce Meye

It sounds like a pretty foundational point, but I believe there are many who still question whether God really talks to people. And if He does, they wonder:

• Is God really involved in my life?
• Does He really want to be involved in all the little details?
• Does God only help out with big issues, not little ones?

Have you ever asked yourself these questions? Do you ever wonder if God speaks to people? You'll be happy to know the answer is yes. But first let me explain how distractions can hinder His voice.

Distractions That Drown Out God's Voice

The world makes it easy for us to fill our ears with all kinds of things that drown out the voice of God and push Him far, far into the background of our lives. These distractions come in various forms, from the TV to the radio…from food to hobbies. Even our family and church activities can sometimes distract us or pull us away from the Lord.

However, the day comes when only God remains. Everything else in our lives eventually passes away; and when it does, God will still be there.

The Word of God teaches that what is known about God is evident to all because He has made Himself known in the inner consciousness of mankind (see Romans 1:19-21). Each person will someday stand before Him and give an account of his or her life (see Romans 14:10-12).

When people don't want to serve God with their lives and want to go their own way, they find ways to hide from and ignore this instinctive inner knowledge of their Creator who wants to talk to them and guide them in the way they should go.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

“ Through Christ, and the power of His Holy Spirit, God wants to speak to you on a One-to-one basis every day. ”

Nothing can satisfy our longing for God, except communion and fellowship with Him. Isaiah expressed well our own hunger for God when he wrote, My soul yearns for You [O Lord] in the night, yes, my spirit within me seeks You earnestly (Isaiah 26:9).

Hearing from God is vital to enjoying His eternal plan for our lives. Listening to God is our decision; no one else can make it for us. God won't force us to choose His will, but He will do everything He can to encourage us to say yes to His ways.

This means God wants to be involved in even the smallest details of our lives. His Word tells us to acknowledge Him in all our ways, and He will direct our paths (see Proverbs 3:6). To acknowledge God is to care what He thinks and to ask for His opinion.

Nobody Told Me

Even though I sincerely loved Jesus, I went to church for years without knowing that God talks to people. I observed all the religious rules and holidays...I went to church every Sunday. I was really doing all that I knew to do at that time. But it wasn't enough to satisfy my longing for God.

I could've spent every moment in church or in Bible study, but it wouldn't have quenched the thirst I had for a deeper fellowship with the Lord. I needed to talk to Him about my past and hear Him talk to me about my future. But nobody taught me that God wants to talk directly to me. No one offered a solution for the dissatisfied feelings I endured.

Through reading the Word, I learned that God does want to talk to us and He does have a plan for our lives that will lead us to a place of peace and contentment.

Never hesitate to take what you think are small things to God; after all, everything is small to God.

Expect God to Speak to You

When Jesus spoke in John 16:12-13, He was talking to men with whom He had spent the previous three years. They had been with Him day and night, yet He indicated that He had more to teach them. We would think that if Jesus were with us personally for three years, day and night, we would have learned all there is to know.

But Jesus said to expect more because He will always have something to say to us about new situations we are facing.

Expect to Hear God

Through Christ, and the power of His Holy Spirit, God wants to speak to you on a one-to-one basis every day. He wants to lead you to the good things He has in store for you.

Hearing God's voice throughout the day has become a natural way of life for me since I received the fullness of the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised to send us. The Father will give His Spirit to all who ask (see Luke 11:13). The Holy Spirit will help us understand the Bible so we will know how to apply its wisdom to our lives (see John 14:26). Each of us can hear from God and be led by the Holy Spirit daily.

Listen to Everything

Recently God told me that when we are unwilling to hear in one area, it may render us unable to hear in other areas. Sometimes we choose to turn a deaf ear to what we know the Lord is clearly saying to us. We only hear what we want to hear; it's called "selective hearing."

After a while, people think they can't hear from God anymore. But there are lots of things God has already told them… they just haven't responded to them yet. I have learned that the more quickly I do what the Lord tells me to do, the more quickly He reveals the next step I'm supposed to take.

As you're spending time with Him, just listen. Don't just talk about what you want or need. He will open up many issues if you will be still before Him and simply listen