Expecting the Lord to Speak...

Today, I wanted to share with you a wonderful aspect of the spirit-filled Christian life. Hearing from God. I know I have spoken of this before, but I have never delved into the expectation of hearing from the Lord. You see, once you have heard the Lord speak and begin to know His voice, one begins to expect to hear Him speak again. There are times when the Lord may not answer a question or prayer right away, and those times can seem dark and dismal. Once you have experienced walking closely with the Lord, anything but being next to Him seems miserable.

As I have briefly mentioned in prior posts, I am beginning a new season of walking with God. To be quite honest, it is already unlike any other season I have been through. The Lord is asking new things of me and expecting more from me. He is asking me to trust Him with every step and to believe that He will lead me, even if it is one step at a time. The two scriptures that he has been pressing on my heart lately are:

Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."

and

Deuteronomy 5:32 (NIV)

"So be careful to do what the LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left."

These two scriptures have been turning over and over in my heart and mind. The Lord had given me a picture in my mind when this season began of me in a dark tunnel. To the right and left are pitch-black darkness, but there is One who is leading me through the tunnel step my step, with only enough light for one step at a time. I shared this thought with my pastor. It has been confirmed in many ways that this is exactly where I am at in my walk with the Lord. I am going deeper into this dark tunnel, but I have my Lord to guide me step by step. Last night, I was feeling a little nervous, as I have been, about this new place the Lord has brought me. I will be quite honest in the fact that going one day at a time, step by step, is stretching my faith and my trust in the Lord.

Yesterday, I cried out to God and asked Him to help me. I asked Him to speak to me and assure me that everything was going to be alright, and that he had it all under control. Attending a pentecostal church means that we believe in the operation of the gifts of the Spirit, as the Spirit allows and moves on the hearts of His people, and we hear from the Lord in prophecy, gifts of tongues, interpretation, words of wisdom, etc. Last night, we were worshipping and our worship leader began to speak in tongues. It never ceases to amaze me when I hear someone speaking in tongues, including myself. She gave the interpretation immediately following. You want to know what the Lord said?

(I am paraphrasing) - Trust in Me for all your needs, do not look to the right or the left, I am the lamp unto your feet and the light unto your path.

There was more to it, but this went deeply into my heart as I knew the Lord was speaking directly to ME. He was reassuring me through His Spirit that what he spoke to me was true, and that he was right with me. He was confirming the direction he had given me, and that He will take care of all my needs. And I believe Him.

I sobbed during service knowing that my Lord loves me so very deeply, and he cares about me in the most intimate, personal way anyone ever could. He knows my needs more than I do, and he is walking me through this life. I began to cry out to the Lord in prayer for all those who do not know Him. They do not know the God that will walk faithfully by their side all the days of their lives, who will supply all their needs, comforting them, loving them beyond measure, and fulfilling deep desires of the heart. They have not been to the fountain of life and drunk living water. But praise the Lord, he is not letting them go! He is still working on their hearts, bringing them to that place!

At the end of the night, a dear sister in the Lord gave me a hug and encouraged me. She said "He is not letting go of you." He says in His Word:

Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV):

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrifed because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

If you have never heard the Lord speak to your heart, begin to EXPECT Him to speak, and he will break down any barriers that are keeping you from hearing His voice. He loves you, and like me, He will not let go of you. The devil and his angels have convinced people that God does not speak to His people anymore through tongues, interpretation, prophecy, or even a still small voice. People believe that the only way we hear the Lord is through reading His Word, and I challenge anyone who believes this to find the scripture to prove their beliefs. These gifts have never ceased, although they will someday when the Lord returns to bring us home with Him. Then we will see perfectly, face to face, our Lord. We will no longer need the gifts to hear our Lord because we will be in His presence for eternity.

For now, expect Him to speak and watch how the Lord will answer you.

Psalm 86:7 (NIV)

"In the day of trouble, I will call to you, for you will answer me."

Lord,

Today I thank you for your voice in my life. I thank you for using me to speak to others your truth and wisdom for living. I thank you that you will answer when I call to you in my day of trouble. I thank you for your patience in my life, and the way you always deal with me gently and with a full measure of compassion and grace. I pray right now, Lord, that you would open the ears of those who will listen to your voice. I pray that you would speak to their hearts through your Word, tongues, interpretation, prophecy, evangelism, wisdom, knowledge and truth. Your Word tells me that Your thoughts of me outnumber the grains of sand (Psalm 139:18). Thank you for your great love, and your Presence in my life each and every day. Help me to rejoice in your salvation today, and the salvation of those whom you will save. Touch the hearts and lives of those who are reading this, and bless them richly in the name of Jesus. I pray in His precious name, and thank you for His costly sacrifice. Amen.

His Disciple,

Sarah