THREE WAYS THAT GOD MAY BE SPEAKING TO YOU

Few things can be more bewildering to a new believer than figuring out exactly why God is speaking to all the “veteran believers” and isn’t speaking to them routinely. They hear long time believers say things like “God spoke to me” and “God said”. The reality is there’s little evidence anyone has audibly heard God’s voice since Biblical times. However, there’s plenty of scriptural evidence to support the fact that God speaks to His people routinely.

The most common manner God speaks to us is through scripture itself which is God’s divine word. The more we read the Bible with a seeking heart, the more God reveals to us. Proverbs 1:5 says "let the wise listen and add to their learning".  If you’ve spent much time reading God’s Word you’ve no doubt read the same passage of scripture multiple times and suddenly had a revelation about what it really meant and how it applies in your life.  That's God's voice coming through the written Word.  READ YOUR BIBLE. God is speaking to you loud and clear!

God speaks to us through our individual circumstances. He gives each of us gifts that He wants us to use to build His Kingdom. The gifts of preaching, teaching, raising money, praying, caring for the sick, ministering to the afflicted, building relationships, etc. are God’s way of telling you what He would have you do. In 1 Peter 4:10 God tells us He gives us these gifts to serve others with.  USE YOUR GIFTS. God is speaking to you loud and clear!

God speaks to us through other people and the wise counsel they provide. For example, the Pastor who always seems to be talking to you from the pulpit, the Godly friend who encourages you when you are facing life’s challenges or the spouse who lovingly reminds you of your obligations to your marriage and children. You know that little voice or tug at your heart when you feel it.  LISTEN TO WISE COUNSEL. God is speaking to you loud and clear!

While these are not the only ways in which God speaks to us they are certainly THREE WAYS THAT GOD MAY BE SPEAKING TO YOU.

IDENTIFY, PRIORITIZE AND EXECUTE

Any successful leader will tell you that it is impossible to build a high performing business or organization without a plan that involves setting goals and establishing priorities to achieve the goals.  You have to possess a clear understanding of the goals you need to achieve to be successful and you must prioritize the time and resources you use in working to accomplish your goals.  It's LEADERSHIP 101.

I'd suggest to you that those same two keys, goals and priorities, are essential to enhancing your walk with God.  And here is why I believe that.  If we are not intentional in developing our relationship with God we are simply working Him in when we can or just letting our relationship with Him happen.  And that is not what we should want and it is clearly not what God describes that he wants in Jeremiah 24:7 where he says of His beloved children "I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart."

Here are three simple steps that effective business leaders use to form a plan that you can use to "tighten up" your walk with God:

1. Identify the key goals you need to achieve as part of your plan to improve your relationship with God.  Common goals might include daily prayer, daily bible reading, ministry work, church volunteer work, etc.  Actually I think these common goals I've mentioned are likely at the top of the list of things you need to do to get closer to God. 
2. Prioritize the key goals you need to accomplish as part of your plan.  Listen, none of us have unlimited time on our hands.  There are just so many hours in a given day - 24 right?  So establish which goals you think are most important to help you deepen your walk with God and put those at the top of your list of daily activities. Make sure you devote the biggest portion of your available time to the highest priority goals.
3. Execute your plan.  As they say in the Nike commercials "Just Do It".  You've established what you need to do and what is most important to do - so simply do what you know you need to do.

Now I'm not suggesting this mechanical approach is all that is required to know God or get closer to God.  The Holy Spirit indwells and leads us in gaining understanding of God and in deepening our relationship with God.  But the process suggested here will certainly help you be more intentional in your efforts.  IDENTIFY, PRIORITIZE AND EXECUTE - it will make a difference in your relationship with God.