Following Instruction

“I take joy in doing your will, my God,

for your instructions are written on my heart.”

Psalm 40:8


Whose vision are you living? Is it someone else’s vision, or one that God has given to you personally? Are you trying to live out someone else’s direction?

God has instruction for all of us. He speaks to us individually—writing dreams and visions on our hearts. They are meant just for us—tailored to suit our gifts and personality.

How will we know his direction unless we hear his voice and answer his call? It takes practice in stillness, expecting and listening. Many of us have poor listening skills and are not good at waiting to hear God speak. Yet his words are life, and following his instructions brings joy.

Just as the compass points us in the right direction, God shows us the right path we are to take. We only need to pay attention to the teacher and guide. He will never lead us astray.


Jesus, through patience and stillness, I will listen to your direction.

Can You Hear Him?

For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.  Romans 8:16




How does God speak to us? Can He speak to someone who hasn't received Him?
Do you remember as a child attaching a long string to 2 tin cans and using it as a telephone to your buddy?

Our connection to God is a Spirit to spirit one. The string that connects us to God is his Spirit living in us. He cannot speak to our flesh or our reason - they dont have God in them. But our spirit is indwelled with God's spirit when we commit to communion with Him - receiving Him into our life.

Our flesh and reason is under our command - we have the power through Christ to make them obey and come into line. But our spirit is the temple where God speaks. If we aren't in tune with our spirit, we won't be listening for his voice. We must find Him where He is and then listen.

Can you hear Him? Tighten up that string.

Can You Hear?

“Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”   Matt. 13:9 NLT

Ears to hear. Not just listen, but really hear. There is so much that God wants to tell us. His instruction is endless and He longs to communicate to us his plan for our lives. It’s up to us to listen for his voice, hear what He is saying and then do what He wants us to do.

For those of us who have children, we remember the days when we thought they would never learn to listen. I would get in my children’s face and have them look straight into my eyes while I gave instruction. Sometimes, depending on the distractions, that wasn’t even enough to make it stick. It’s very frustrating to a parent to feel they are not getting through to their little ones.

God is never frustrated, but He still desires to speak to our hearts with words of comfort, wisdom, exhortation and love. He waits patiently to reveal the secrets of the universe as they pertain to us.

Stop. Take time to listen. Hear the voice of the Lord. Let his words soak into your heart and soul.

Heavenly Father, teach me to listen and hear. Tell me what you want me to know and I will do my best to please You.

Do You Hear The Instruction?

“I take joy in doing your will, my God,
      for your instructions are written on my heart.”

Psalm 40:8

Whose vision are you living by? Is it someone else’s vision, or one that God has given to you personally? Are you trying to live out someone else’s direction?

God has instruction for all of us. He speaks to us individually—writing dreams and visions on our hearts. They are meant just for us—tailored to suit our needs and personality.

How will we know his direction unless we hear his voice and answer his call? It takes practice in being still, expecting and listening. Many of us have poor listening skills and are not so good at being patient to hear God speak. Yet his words are life, and following his instructions brings joy.

Just as the compass points us in the right direction, God shows us the right path we are to take. We only need to pay attention to the teacher and guide. He will never lead us astray.

Jesus, through patience and stillness, I will listen to your direction.

Knock, Knock, who's there?

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21

The Word of God tells us that He has made himself known to us through his Spirit, his word and through creation. Our inner conscience has witness of Him when He enters our lives. Nothing will fulfill our longing for God except communion with Him. It’s not enough to admire the creation, attend church, or say grace at the dinner table. It’s fellowship we need.

Knowing about God isn’t sufficient to enter into the kind of fellowship He desires to have with us. Our love, worship and service for and to Him must be genuine—seeking to know Him more. It’s in these times when He speaks to us, and shows us his way of living. God communicates his will for our lives whenever we care to listen. More than listen—we must hear. It’s our choice.

The result of rejecting intimacy with God is that our Christianity is ineffective. When there is no true fellowship we cannot know what He wants for us. If we don’t know what He wants for us, we can’t do his will. If we don’t do his will, He won’t get the glory. See the cycle?

Who wants a heart that is darkened by futile thinking? Of course, none of us do. Yet the more we refuse to hear Him, and the more we neglect to worship and praise Him, the farther we get from his voice.

What an awesome thing that the God of the universe would want to commune with us. The Bible says He stands at the door and knocks. It’s our decision to let Him in to fellowship.