You’ve probably heard someone say, “God works in mysterious ways.” We usually hear this type of glib comment from someone who doesn’t know God or His character. This type of mindset may be true for the world, but not for believers. For those who have developed a relationship with Jesus Christ and are led by the Holy Spirit, God’s directions to us are crystal-clear and completely transparent.
God has been speaking to mankind all along, but most people don’t hear Him because they’re not listening. In the Old Testament, God tried His best to get through to the people but they were hard-hearted and stiff-necked. However, Jesus’ coming signaled a shift to a plainer way of speaking. Never in all of time has God spoken to us so clearly and distinctly. “Throughout our history God has spoken to our ancestors by his prophets in many different ways. The revelation he gave them was only a fragment at a time, building one truth upon another. But to us living in these last days, God now speaks to us openly in the language of a Son…” (Hebrews 1:1, 2, TPT).
With Jesus’ imminent return, God’s messages to us have taken on a new urgency. After His resurrection, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit, who wasn’t available in the old covenant, to speak to us every day concerning His love for us. “…Because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5, NKJV). Listening to Him strengthens our faith because He doesn’t condemn us or make us feel guilty, but instead constantly reminds us of how God feels about us.
Most people can’t hear God talking because they don’t know the Holy Spirit. Their spirits are tuned to the noisy, distracting things of the world. Those who do know the Spirit and are tuned in to listen for His voice receive wisdom and guidance not found in the world. They also receive peace of mind that can’t be shaken. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you…” (John 14:26, 27, NKJV).
Hearing directly from God instantly cuts through the noisy confusion and spiritual clutter found all around us. Believers have this advantage over everyone else. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). God never wants us to wonder what’s He saying; when we’re listening and following His lead, we’ll always hear Him clearly and distinctly.
There’s no mystery involved in discerning God’s plans for us. He wants the best for us and we never have to fear what He’s thinking concerning us. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11, NKJV). God isn’t angry with us; good things, not punishment, are on His agenda. Believing this gives us hope.
Like a compass that’s never wrong, hearing from God always points us in the right direction. All we need to do is listen for Him. We’ll never be confused when we let Him guide us.
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