Listen! God is Speaking

 'Obey the LORD by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well with you, and your life will be spared.' - Jeremiah 38:20

We live in the information age, where things are easily accomplished by the use of the internet. For a computer to work, it needs software. And for your computer to be secure, you will need additional software called anti-virus. This software will protect your computer from viruses and threats that may harm your computer and your data. Normally, when you try to download or install unauthorised files from unsecured sites, your anti-virus will alert and warn you about a possible threat. It does this to keep your data safe, and when you act accordingly, your system will be secured. 

In the same way, the Holy Spirit does speak to us from time to time. Guiding us on things we need to do, and warning us when we try to cross the line which God has set. The Holy Spirit does this for our own good, so that we don't fall into trouble. So often, we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to us, but we ignore the alerts, the warnings and guidance. 

Remember the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4? We read that both Cain and Abel presented their offerings to God. Abel presented fat portions from some of his firstborn flocks while Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil, and God did not regard Cain's offering with favour. So, later, Cain became angry and discouraged. 

Then the LORD spoke to Cain, saying, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." - Genesis 4:6-7.

Cain heard God's warning, but he chose to ignore it. Cain then went ahead and killed his brother Abel. How many times have we found ourselves in a similar situation as Cain?  There are times when we hear God's voice saying, 'Don't do it,' or 'Don't drive that way, ' or 'Just wait, ' but then we just do the opposite. When we go against God's voice, we often find ourselves in a bigger mess which could have been avoided in the first place. 

God speaks to us all the time. Sometimes we think that God will only speak to us about the bigger stuff, but He also speaks to us about the little things- the simple things concerning our everyday life. God intends that we be in tune with His voice, so that we may walk securely on a straight path without going astray. Every word that comes from the mouth of God requires our total obedience. 

Very often, we consciously know the lines that we shouldn't cross, and we see them clearly. Rather than avoiding them, we take steps towards them. At first, it is one leg on the cross-line, and before you know it, you are way past the cross-line and your conscience has grown numb. 

When you deactivate the anti-virus on your computer, you are simply exposing your crucial data stored on your computer to threats and viruses. In the same way, when we choose to deactivate God's voice in our lives, we are simply exposing ourselves to danger. This is when your conscience of God has grown numb. We no longer have the fear of God, and don't even consider that God is watching everything that we do. 

Isaiah 1:19 reads, 'If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land.' When God speaks, His intentions are for us to enjoy the very best of what He has in mind. In Jeremiah 29:11, he writes, "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

God is our defender against all kinds of dangers that the enemy may set to snare us. He has seen the road ahead and, like a shepherd, He continues to guide us on a straight path, and our part is to be in tune with His voice and follow wherever He is leading us.

Cain disobeyed God's warning, and his life was under a curse. God asked Cain, "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?" This question is also directed to each one of us. 'If you choose to do what God asks you to do, will you not be accepted?' God is encouraging us to always do what is right and do what pleases Him. Paul writes in Romans 8:5, "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires."

It is important to note that not only was Cain presented with two options, but he was also reminded that he had the power to rule over the desires of sin. So many times we hear voices in our minds, enticing us to engage in doing something which we know very well is wrong. Here, God reminds us that we can rule over it. You don't have to say 'Yes' to every voice you hear in your mind; sometimes you have to say 'No' to certain things. If Cain had listened to God's voice, probably God would have blessed him instead. He wouldn't have gone ahead and killed his brother. 

This is a special encouragement to each one of us. We need to activate God's voice in our lives by reading the Word more and acknowledging God in everything that we do by putting Him first. Being attuned to God's voice also calls for obedience. 

It's my prayer that we live a life that pleases God, with a conscious mind knowing that our lives are in full view of the LORD. May we continue to seek His face in our lives for guidance, since His intentions for us are good, for He's good.