Hear From God: He is always there for you
I was shopping alone yesterday at Jurong point before I went to swim and I realised there were so many changes there. I went down to the basement and found Popular taking over Liberty Market. It was really bright there. There were many books and I began browsing starting from the section, entitled, "Self-Help." I did so because I hope that through this 2 years in National Service, I could improve myself as a person, and my skills in life.
I saw a lot of books, very attractive ones such as:
(1) The 5 languages of Love
(2) 69 Rules of Love
(3) How to win friends and influence people
(4) Etc etc.
I really wanted to buy one though but I didn't. Thus I went up to Life bookshop for a look. Then I saw these few books, which once again are very attractive such as:
(1) How to read the bible?(2) Answers to life questions through the bible.(3) Etc etc.Then one book caught my eye and that was "How to HEAR FROM GOD" by Joyce Meyer. I do not know whether is it coincidental but I thought the reason for me to purchase it has a purpose behind just as we talk today, and you said you want to hear from Him. Truth #1: God is always there for you!"If the above is the truth, how come I do not experience it?" One may ask.
"I pray alot but I can't hear God answer my prayers!" One may ask.Its a sad truth that many do not experience such entitlement which God provides us not because God did not answer but because of the world we live in. The world makes it easy for us to fill our ears with all kinds of Earthly things that kept God's voice far into the background of our lives. In fact, God is always trying to speak to us, just that our life is so hectic that we fail to detect his presence. So STOP AND LISTEN!First, we need to accept this truth that nothing can satisfy us except God. "My soul yearns for You in the night, yes, my spirit within me seeks You earnestly" (Isaiah 26:9). Hearing from God is important so as to enjoy God's eternal plan for our lives. However, listening to him is up to our choice; no one else can make it for us. There's a saying, the success of repentance is dependant on how much you want it. God will not force us to choose His will, but He will do everything He can to encourage us to say yes to HIs ways.Proverbs 3:7 says, "Be not wise in your own eyes." From the day Adam and Eve fell, we are born sinners and even after we are saved, our sins are forgiven through Jesus' blood but we are not yet perfect. Thus, what this verse means is that do not even think about running your life and do a good job without God's help and direction because its impossible. How can we hear God? There are many ways which we can hear God and to each individual, the way God speaks to us differs. The below are some ways which God will speak to us:
(1) The Word of God - Bible
(2) Friends
(3) Pictures
(4) Speak to you directly (Not many are able to enjoy)"How come I have never experience either of these?" One may ask. STOP AND LISTEN!The Bible teaches that God has a good plan for all those who will put their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives. His plan is complete in great detail, and it will lead all who follow Him to an abundant life. If you want to hear from Him, first learn to trust in Him."Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:6-7)NEVER hesitate to talk to or ask from God. God desires to hear from you, every single detail of your life - from small matter to big ones and do not be shy to ask Him for help. He is our Father and He has promised us to prosper us and not to harm us, thus do not think that we will trouble God if we ask Him for too much help. That is an excuse!"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,' declares the Lord" (Jeremiah 29: 11-14)Expect Him to speak to you. John 16:13 says, "For He will not speak His own message; but He will tell whatever He hears from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him, and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come." God knows that we would need help in hearing Him and in understanding His plan for us, so He sent the Holy Ghost to dwell in us. (John 1:32-33). So be patience, and let go of yourself to allow the Holy Spirit guide you along.John 14:15-20, Jesus explained:
"If you love me, you will keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter, that he may reamin with you forever - The Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive because it does not see Him or know and recognize Him... I will not leave you as orphans..."Expect to Hear from Him. God cares about the desires of your heart. (Matthew 10:30) and He wants to reveal truth to you so that you will not worry and fear. If you do not expect Him to speak to you or expect yourself to hear from Him, even if he does, subconsciously, you chose not to. There is a saying, "One wins half the battle without it even starting, when One belives that winning the battle is going to happen." Be humble and ask Him to talk to us. (Luke 11:13) He will speak through the Holy spirit, whom help us understand God's will and guide us in accordance to His will.In summary, for God to speak to us, first we have to change our attitude by:
(1) Trusting in Him
(2) Never hesitate involving Him in our life
(3) Always expect God to reply to your prayers(4) Be humble and ask for His guidance.
Love.
Love. What is love? How does one defines love?
There are 2 definitions about love - the World's definition and God's definition.
The World defines Love as:
(1) Primarily for the fulfillment and comfort of self
(2) Primarily a feeling
(3) Is beyond our control
To feel love is not wrong but in most cases, we tend to put our feelings the upmost priority of measuring love, we put ourselves as the main importance. In fact, our feelings by themselves do not do others one bit of good.
By stressing the importance of feelings, most of the time, we forget the importance of putting love in action. And when we evaluate the quality of our love for someone else, simply by our own fulfillment, we are being selfish.
Have we always wonder why people say that they are falling in love? Why "fall" and not others? What do these statements reveal about our attitdues toward love? Part of the reason we make these overstated and illogical reasoning is because the word "fall" removes personal responsibilities. If a person falls into a pit, what he/she can do about it?
1 Corinthians 13:4-8, Paul said:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, awlays perserveres. Love never fails."
The bible has very different views about love. God defines love by pointing to his one and only beloeved Son. This was also the only way which we may be saved through the shedding of Jesus Christ's blood. And all who find forgiveness and life through Jesus are called to follow in His steps - to love others because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
"If anyone would come after me," Jesus said, "he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24).
Jesus Christ taught love. And his definition of love is that love is not for the fulfillment of self but for the glory of God and the good of others. True love is selfless. It gives; it sacrifices; it dies to its own needs.
"Greater love has no one than this," Jesus said, "that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13).
True love is not measured or governed by feeling. Christ demonstrated. He went to the cross when every emotion and instinct in His body told Him not to turn himself in. Mark 14:32-34 says, They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, " he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." Jesus clearly did not feel like enduring the beatings, hanging, humilation on the cross, and enduring God's wrath for sin.
Did Jesus Christ deserved that? Was he obliged to do it for us? No. But because God love us and therefore He is willing to send his one and only beloved Son down to Earth to die for our sins. (John 3:16).
"If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14:15). True love always expresses itself in obedience to God and service to others.
Good feelings are nice but not necessary.
Jesus's example also shows us that love is under our control. He chose to love us. He chose to lay down His life for us. We have a choice to love and we should base our love through choice.
"If we can fall in love (world's definition), we can also fall out of love. But not for God's love."
Therefore, we can express true love in obedience to God and service to others - not reckless or selfish behavior - and we can choose this behaviors.
