Can You Hear Me Now?

Can You Hear Me Now?
by Brotha DC

Steps Ordered by God

I recall being in a situation where I witnessed a horrific multi-vehicle accident on the highway I frequently travel. I thanked God for ordering my steps so that I might miss that situation.

²³The steps of a [good] man are directed and established by the Lord when He delights in his way [and He busies Himself with his every step].
²⁴Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him.
²⁵I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the [uncompromisingly] righteous forsaken or their seed begging bread.
²⁶All day long they are merciful and deal graciously; they lend, and their offspring are blessed.
²⁷Depart from evil and do good; and you will dwell forever [securely].
²⁸For the Lord delights in justice and forsakes not His saints; they are preserved forever, but the offspring of the wicked [in time] shall be cut off.

Psalm 37:23-28 [AMP]

A friend questioned me about my assertion that God protected me from that event. His question:

Are you saying that the people who were in that crash did not have
their “lives ordered by the Lord?” Or, for that matter, the people who lost
their lives in Katrina in New Orleans, or the big earthquake in Japan, or
the floods all over the world every year, or the recent tornadoes in the
south… were they all not spared because the Lord wasn’t ordering their
lives?

Deep, questions. Is it true that God is playing favorites, or that He chooses to ignore certain people in favor of others?

At the risk of falling into a theological quagmire, I provided the most honest answer that my understanding could generate. After all, this is the kind of idea that theologians spend countless hours discussing… and debating. This is the type of philosophical conundrum about which thousands of pages of dissertation are written.

Thinking back to the tragedy of 9/11, I recall a common thread while listening to the stories of those who survived... or who missed the tragic events altogether.

Many who survived said that “something” told them to sleep in late... or that “a feeling” led them to be a few hours late that day. One gentleman offered to buy his daughter a sandwich for her lunch and she insisted on going to a deli that was so far off his beaten path that it set him way behind his typical schedule and, as a result, caused him to miss what might have been a fatal encounter with the followers of Osama bin Laden.
Even more interesting is the interview with a gate attendant who saw the two men who would crash one of the jets into one of the world trade towers. This gentleman said that he had “a funny feeling” about those guys... but the line was long and he didn’t want to delay the flight.

I think a lot of people have those funny feelings... or feel a prompting from that “Je n’ai sais pas” that tells them to do or not do something. What most people fail to realize (or, to accept) is that these is not just random premonitions or some sort of intuition. What is it?

God is talking to you!

God is saying, “Hey, watch out... something is about to happen.”

Perhaps, if some of the victims of that wreck that I witnessed were interviewed, one might hear them say things like:

• “Something told me not to turn on my blackberry while driving...”
• “Something told me to watch the road and not fiddle with the radio...”
• “I had a feeling I shouldn’t have sped up to cut off that 18-wheeler...”

God speaks to His chidren. Unfortunately, those not in a personal relationship with Him are not tuned into His frequency and may often miss the message. In my experiences and observations, even those who have given their lives to Him through Christ Jesus often allow things to drown out that still small voice (1 Kings 19:12).

I myself miss it quite often, but lately have been exercising myself to be more attentive -- and it pays off. If you are inclined to do the same, be aware of a few important things:

The Inner Witness

As a born again believer, the Holy Spirit of God lives and resides within you. You are His temple.

But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

1 Corinthians 6:19 [AMP]

God is not a billion miles away. He is right there... closer than your skin as the poet wrote. We don’t need to get into a prayer line or a confessional booth. We can boldly go to the throne of Almighty God Himself just like a child will crawl into his daddy’s lap for comfort, for love, for whatever we stand in need of. God is our Abba (the Hebrew word for Daddy) Father.

Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

Hebrews 4:16 [AMP]

For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!

Romans 8:15 [AMP]

And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the [ Holy] Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba (Father)! Father!

Galatians 4:6 [AMP]

As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe].

Psalm 103:13 [AMP]

We are His sheep (Psalm 95:7 and Psalm 100:3). He is our Shepherd (John 10:14). He speaks to us. We incline our hearts to hear Him.

The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me.

John 10:27 [AMP]

We must listen to and hear the voice of the Lord. How do we do so?

¹⁶But they have not all heeded the Gospel; for Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed (had faith in) what he has heard from us?
¹⁷So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).
¹⁸But I ask, Have they not heard? Indeed they have; [for the Scripture says] Their voice [that of nature bearing God's message] has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the far bounds of the world.

Romans 10:16-18 [AMP]

We need to have faith in order to be pleasing to God -- to believe that He is God, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). As we spend time in the Bible... and communicating with God through constant prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), we will grow in our ability to hear from God.

As if to prove His power to speak to us... the Lord gave Judypie the following on this same topic.  Coincidence?  Nope.  Just Him ordering our steps.

The Word and His Voice
by Judy Ann

Thank you Father, for teaching and training me to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd. I’ll not follow the voice of a stranger. Your Voice and Your Word agree; You and Your Word are one. Thank You for Truth that exposes the false and counterfeit. I delight in Your Word, which is eternal. Your Word is Light dispelling the darkness. Your Word is Life swallowing up death. Hallelujah! I praise You in the name of Jesus. Amen.

God Directs Your Path
by Judy Ann

Father, may I always listen for Your gentle whisper. Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to take me by the hand and guide me into all the truth. He speaks only what He hears, and He will tell me what is yet to come. In all my ways I acknowledge You, and You shall direct my path. In the name of Jesus, I thank You for Your great love for me. Amen.

^11-12 Then he was told, "Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by."

    A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn't to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn't in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper

1 Kings 19:11-12 [MSG]

But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

John 16:13 [AMP]

In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

Proverbs 3:6 [AMP]

Lord’s Path
by Judy Ann

The Lord’s path is paved with love and mercy for everyone willing to stop and ask for directions -— for those who cling to His life-giving promises.

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and steadfast love, even truth and faithfulness are they for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.

Psalm 25:10 [AMP]

Prayer to Begin the Day
by Judy Ann

Father, I come before You rejoicing, for this is the day that You have made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. To obey is better than sacrifice, so I am making a decision to submit to Your will today, that my plans and purposes may be conducted in a manner that will bring honor and glory to You. Cause me to be spiritually and mentally alert in this time of meditation and prayer, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

This is the day which the Lord has brought about; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 [AMP]

Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15:22 [AMP]

Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2 [AMP]