| When the subject is: Communicating with God, "How | | | | for a sign that it was truly from the Lord. Then when |
| do you know when you're hearing God's voice?" is | | | | Gideon brought food, the angel touched it with his staff |
| one of the most commonly asked questions. | | | | and fire consumed the meal Gideon had prepared. |
| Perhaps you've been praying or meditating and you | | | | Perhaps a more familiar story is the one about the |
| sense you're hearing God's voice - but you're not sure | | | | fleece. Gideon laid a fleece on the ground and asked |
| - how do you know? | | | | God to make the fleece wet and the ground around it |
| We'd all like yes or no answers - every time. In spiritual | | | | dry. Then for confirmation Gideon asked the next day |
| matters it doesn't always work that way. There is a | | | | for the fleece to be dry and the earth around it wet |
| reason for this. In our human/physical way of thinking | | | | with dew. |
| we only see a few of the options available. Spirit is | | | | One might think that God would be upset because |
| aware of unlimited possibilities - unlike our limited human | | | | Gideon didn't simply trust. That wasn't the case at all. |
| mind. | | | | Gideon just wanted confirmation, God gave it and |
| Often while we're praying or asking from our limited | | | | Gideon obeyed. |
| perspective, God is reaching out to us from His infinite | | | | How about testing God? |
| perspective and we simply feel disconnected - as if | | | | Ask God to give you a sign. It can be anything you |
| we're not completely understood by the Almighty. | | | | believe is possible. Of course you will probably want it |
| When we let go of our ways of thinking and limited | | | | to be something a bit unusual or unexpected. In other |
| expectations for the solutions to our problems - we | | | | words don't ask Him to prove He's speaking to you by |
| can be more open to God's unlimited possibilities and | | | | making the sun come up in the morning! |
| we'll simply stand in awe of His amazing answers and | | | | The key to any communicating with God is to be |
| work on our behalf. | | | | completely open and willing for the communication and |
| Therefore, the first thing you need to do when | | | | the action required. |
| wondering if you're hearing God's voice is become | | | | What I mean by that is if you feel that God is asking |
| open to the possibility that He is speaking to you in all | | | | you to do something you really don't want to do and |
| kinds of ways - audibly, through events, by other | | | | you ask for confirmation and question and wonder and |
| people or by giving you words or thoughts that seem | | | | waffle around - You will not get real clarity from God |
| to come from beyond your own understanding - to | | | | regarding your dilemma. Ultimately you are creating |
| name a few. | | | | your own mess by not being completely willing to do |
| Remember we're dealing with the infinite here. As the | | | | whatever He directs you to do regardless. |
| scripture teaches - With God all things are possible. | | | | Often we find ourselves emotionally attached to a |
| Relax your preconceived notions about God as best | | | | particular outcome and we pray and seek God's |
| you can and then consider a couple examples from | | | | advice, and direction - but we're not really in a place to |
| The Bible where a man wanted to be sure that he | | | | allow the infinite Creator to have free course. We're |
| was hearing God's voice. | | | | consumed with what we think is best. |
| In the Old Testament book of Judges there's an | | | | In this state we prevent clear communicating with God. |
| amazing story about a man named Gideon. The Lord's | | | | Though He is speaking out to us, we disallow anything |
| people were suffering under the Midianites and God | | | | that isn't in alignment with our limited thinking. |
| sent a message to Gideon - calling him to deliver His | | | | So reduce your limits on God, be prepared for anything |
| people. | | | | and put Him to the test! He will reward you! |
| When God gave Gideon the message, Gideon asked | | | | |