Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. / Psalm 119:105

Yesterday I wrote, the Shunnamite woman, "...acknowledged her trust in God's providence, regardless of the situation. Yet, she didn't stop at mere words. She immediately put her faith into action."

This brings up at least three questions:

1. How do we know which action we should take?
2. How do we know we're doing God's will and not our own?
3. How do we hear God's voice and distinguish it from ours or others?

Today and tomorrow, I'll talk about four ways we hear from God.

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When seeking to hear from God to get into action, we find the surest foundation in His Word, the Scriptures, and in the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit within our hearts.

1. The Scripture. The written Word of God is the foundational and first way to hear from God. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we read that all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. When we immerse ourselves in the Word of God, we are equipped with wisdom and discernment to recognize His voice. The Bible becomes a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, guiding us through life's complexities. The more of God's Word we know, the better equipped we are to know when it's God leading us vs. us leading us.

2. Promptings in Our Heart by the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit, who dwells within believers, communicates God's guidance through gentle promptings in our hearts. As we meditate on the Word, we become more attuned to the Spirit's leading, enabling us to discern His voice clearly.

I got a good understanding of this in college when, on a rare occasion, I did the assigned reading before class. During the lecture I recognized nearly everything the professor was saying because I had already read it. The same goes with promptings from the Spirit. The Holy Spirit will be an echo chamber for what's written in the Word because it's God's Word and his Spirit.

Important: What you believe you hear from the Holy Spirit will not contradict what you read in God's Word because they're one: God the Father, God the Son (who is also the Word of God), and God the Spirit.

Imagine me writing in my will that I'm leaving my house to Cetelia (my wife), yet someone shows up to court saying, "Kevin said he was leaving it to me." The judge will go by what's written, not what I allegedly said.

So it goes for God's Word. What's written is more sure than what we believe we've heard. This requires us humbling ourselves and esteeming the written Word above all—including our promptings.

Tomorrow we'll look at two more ways we hear from God.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I thank You for giving me Your Word and the Holy Spirit to guide me. As I study the Scriptures, I pray that Your truth would penetrate my heart and mind, transforming me into the image of Your Son, Jesus. Help me to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, aligning my heart with Your perfect will. May Your Word and Your Spirit be the firm foundation upon which I build my life. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. How often do you spend time reading and meditating on the Scriptures?

2. Is there a particular verse or passage that has been speaking to your heart recently? Take a moment to reflect on its significance in your life.

3. How can you be more attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit in your daily walk with God?

Hymn: It Is Well

Watch Sunday's Message:

Hymns for Spiritual Formation: It is Well

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