hearing God

Yesterday I was on about Listening.

I suppose in a way that's what today's been about as well. Listening for the Lord and hearing him speak.

Bill Hybels has a book, relatively recently published, called 'The Power of a Whisper' with the sub-title - Hearing God. Having the guts to respond. It's typical Hybels. Good, clear and both challenging and encouraging at one and the same time.

It's about listening for the 'whispers' of the Lord.

Relationship with the Lord is the heart of the gospel. And relationship involves this two-way communication. Our speaking with him, his speaking with us.

It's wonderfully real.

I met with someone today who'd been hearing God speak. A powerful, challenging, potentially life-changing word - which had repercussions for myself as well.

He asked me how what the Lord had been saying to him impacted on myself. Did it ring any bells?

Well, it certainly did! The Lord has been pointedly drawing some things to my attention along precisely these same lines. It seemed a striking confirmation for us both.

I met someone else later on who'd been hearing those 'whispers' of God. Last week. Tuesday and Wednesday in particular. A strange and strong compulsion to be praying for two people. Why she didn't know - she only knew they needed to be prayed for at that time.

One died on the Wednesday morning. The other was bereaved.

Later still I was aware of the Lord again speaking very clearly with another of the people I was with. Through all of our talking, the Lord seemed to lay on my heart the text of John chapter 9. The man born blind.

And in particular the words that Jesus spoke to the man - Go and wash in the pool of Siloam.

This is a person who's close to the point of commitment. What next?

Go and wash in the pool of Siloam.

It seemed like the Lord was speaking that word and pointing the way to proceed. We chatted about exactly what those words would mean. But it was really clear enough!

So I'm praying the person will come back in these coming days like the blind man in the narrative, a whole new person, rejoicing in the change that Jesus brings!

As Charles Wesley wrote in one of his hymns -

He speaks and listening to his voice

New life the dead receive.