“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”(Hebrews 12:2).

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind
you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’…I will instruct you and teach you in
the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you…But when he,
the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth…Do not merely listen
to the word [the Bible] and so deceive your-selves. Do what it says” (Isaiah
30:21; Psalm 32:8; John 16:13a; James 1:22).
      One of the most heartbreaking experiences a parent can have in life is that
of having a wayward or rebellious child. For, no matter how hard that parent
tries to instruct or guide the child on the right path, stubbornness, mistrust, and mischiefs, are the results. But as it is written, pride goes always before the fall!
      From a parental or human point of view, allowing children to learn from
their own rebellious ways is understandable. After all, it can be said, “I did it
my way.” But from a biblical stand point, refusing to hear God’s voice leads
to a fatal trap. The final result will be the second death and an eternity in hell.
       For those who are willing to accept it, when Adam and his wife Eve rebelled against God and died spiritually, they grieved the heart of their Creator.
God could have also said to His fallen children: “Have it your own way.” But
instead, God so loved His fallen and wayward children more than any parent
could ever love a child. God reached out to Adam, clothed him and his wife,
and uttered a judicial pronouncement against the serpent that had deceived
them. Someday, the Seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent or Satan. Thus, since the Word of God is infallible, the just shall live by faith.
      In the fullness of time, God gave His only Son—Christ Jesus to the world.
He died a vicarious death to atone for the sins of the world. God raised Jesus
from the dead to destroy him who had the power of death—Satan. Jesus
ascended to the right hand of Majesty to intercede for God’s elect, and will
return very soon to judge the living and the dead, and to rule the world justly.
      Besides giving the living Word—Christ Jesus, God also gave another
precious gift to the fallen world—His written Word—the Bible. So that, even
those who consider God to be so distant, might be surprised to discover that
indeed, the LORD God desires to communicate with everyone on earth. He
wants a personal relationship with man, even those who deny His existence. God not only reveals Himself in Jesus and through the Bible, but also reveals
Himself through His amazing creation. Just as it is written: “The heavens
declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of his hands. Day after
day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is
no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out
into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Ps 19:1-4a).
      As I stated many times, God has no grandchildren. Put in other words, one
does not become a Christian [a follower of Christ] by joining a Christian
church, by receiving religious rites, or by inheriting it from Christian parents.
      The Lord Jesus says clearly: “You must be born again” (Jn 3:3,7). So,
without regeneration there can be no salvation. However, those whom God
receives as His adopted children through the atoning work of Christ, enjoy
equal standing. Every child of God is sealed with the Holy Spirit. Every child
of God is loved—accepted. Every Child of God has great worth because he or
she was redeemed with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a result, everyone is competent before God because they strive to imitate Jesus.
      So then, God’s children ought to always remember that, “We are God’s
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared
in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10). God is relational. He wants to work in us
through His Spirit. Thus, we must trust God, and entrust ourselves to Him.
      The Christian whose journey begins from beneath the cross of Christ,
knows or ought to know that, God has an eternal plan and purpose for each of
His children. So, it is incumbent upon every child of God to discover what that
plan and purpose for his or her life is. So, I need to submit to God’s will.
      The Father is not interested in casual relationships. Rather, He delights in
covenantal relationships. Also, the Father desires to speak with His children.
First, this means that I need to be consecrated to God through Christ. For,
“He who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit” (cf.
1Co.6:17). Second, I must think and act in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Third,
I must be committed to a life of prayer. That is when the living God speaks.
      Those who are willing to hear God’s voice, hear it primarily through His
Word—the Bible. For God communicates specifically with each of His dear
children. So then, God speaks into one’s heart and mind through the Holy
Spirit. That’s why, for example, two people can hear the same sermon or the
same verse of Scripture and receive different applications. God also speaks
through godly Christians. At other times, God speaks through circumstances.
      So, in order for me to be tuned to the voice of the Holy Spirit I must tune
out the voices of the world, of the flesh and that of the Devil! Then, I need to
constantly renew my mind and engage in the holy occupation of prayer. True
prayer is not a monologue. Rather, is a dialogue with the Father, the invisible
guest and the silent listener in the prayer room. So I can always hear my God.

~ Prayer support ~ Biblical counseling freely available