“My sheep hear my voice my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” John 10:27 KJV
Still teaching on how to “decide to let God have a say concerning which way you go in 2017.” 🙂
Yesterday, we looked at the place of repentance in accessing God’s guidance and plan. A piece of land having the potential to produce raw materials at an industrial scale, would never be maximally utilised if it remains bush. Similarly, you won’t be at a position to receive God’s guidance and be maximally used by Him, if you allow the ‘bush’ of sin to remain in your life; the blood of Jesus ‘clears your bush’ when you repent.
According to our key verse text for today (see above), the ‘sheep’ of Jesus – those who have submitted themselves to His shepherd-hood; those who have received Him as Lord and Saviour, hear His voice and follow Him.
How can we hear His Voice?
IN PRAYER
Jesus encourages us in the Matthew 7:7 to ‘ask and we will receive…’ Several people asked for God’s guidance in prayer in the Bible and received. Jesus Himself spent all night in prayer before choosing His disciples (Luke 6:12-16). I believe He was yielding Himself to God’s plan and asking for God’s guidance on who to choose. Whilst David and his men were away, their families were taken captive and the city burned down by the Amalekites. In this great state of discouragement (his life was also under threat), David encouraged Himself in God, asked Him what to do and God answered (1 Samuel 30:1-8). God is no respecter of persons (Rom 2:11); if others called on Him and He answered, He’ll do the same for you.
THROUGH HIS WORD
God guides us through His Word: “Your Word is a Lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Ps 119:105 NLT.
His Word contains several guidelines on how we are to behave in different circumstances. Jesus is the pattern our lives should conform to (Matt 5:48; John 10:30; 14:10), and we find out how He lived and conducted Himself through the Word of God – the Bible. For example, God’s will for believers is to seek first His Kingdom (Matt 6:33).
“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” John 4:34 NIV
How does seeking God’s kingdom for example, fit in with your new year goals and plans?
The Bible is the standard against which we test whether the guidance we may have received is from God or otherwise, by checking its consistency with God’s character and ways.
Spend time in prayer and in the Bible today and onwards, seeking God’s direction concerning how He’ll have you live out your 2017, deciding in advance that you’ll OBEY HIM!
God bless you
(c) Lydia Ndagilaya for PneumaWord
PneumaWord 