How to hear God’s voice (4)

Having gone through the four ‘D’s that are barriers to hearing God’s voice:

• Disquietude
• Distractions
• Disobedience
• Deafness

I want us to look at the four ‘S’s that can make the reception of God’s voice clearer:

• Solitude
• Serenity
• Submission
• Sharp-eared

1) SOLITUDE

It is a state of being alone without being lonely.It is not the same as loneliness!While in loneliness,you crave for company of others,in solitude,you provide yourself a fantastic company.Spiritually,it is a period one is alone with God.

Jesus Christ,despite his busy schedules while on earth,modelled solitude and I want us to learn some things from him:

One day Jesus left the crowds to pray alone.Only his disciples were with him…-Luke 9:18a(NLT)

The secret to hearing God is in being able to pray alone.What he tells you in the secret can then be shared in the public.No public reaping without private weeping.

One day as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him…Luke 9:18a(Berean)

You can have solitude while you are in the midst of people!Being a family man or a mother with children does not mean you can’t have a time apart for yourself.Start first,they will soon know that Daddy and Mummy are not disturbed at such times.

After walking a little farther, he quickly bowed with his face to the ground and prayed…-Matt 26:39

Learn how to move a ‘little farther’ if you want to go further in hearing God.The voice of God you have been clamouring for is just some steps away from where you are.Move a little farther!

Early in the morning,while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray-Mark 1:35

The points below are practical ways the period of solitude can be used to hear God’s voice:

Wake up very early in the morning while it is still dark

Go to a very quiet location alone with an earpiece that has a Bluetooth

Turn off your phone internet connection to avoid distractions

Put on the bluetooth and listen to some selected worship songs that ‘naturally’ touch and minister to your soul

Focus on God and think about the lyrics of the worship songs for some minutes

While waiting there,you will hear the voice of God!

Is it that simple? Yes! The problem is inconsistency! If you are consistent even if it is 5mins daily,God will always come around to speak to you.I lie not!

NB:The earpiece is not compulsory but essential.One can still worship God without it.However,if you use the earpiece,you won’t disturb others with your music and most importantly tuning your mind towards God becomes faster because you can hear the lyrics clearer and the melody is appreciated better.

Now bring me someone who can play the harp.”While the harp was being played, the power of the LORD came upon Elisha-2Kings 3:15

Does it mean the power of God could not have come down without the harpist? No,it does not.The harp only made Elisha shifted his mind quickly from the physical realm to the heavenly realm.

Personally buying things that can make moments of worship seamless is a good investment and churches that buy modern and sophisticated instruments should not think they are wasting their money!

From all these it can be seen that solitude can be refreshing,exciting and informative because one will get to be alone with God and hear His voice.

To be continued on Wednesday…