Learning to Listen to God's Voice - Ruth L. Snyder

This month we are sharing "God Moments" with each other. I find this a delightful, and thought-provoking theme. I love how God speaks to each individual in ways that are meaningful to them. He truly is a good, good Father!

I'm grateful my parents modeled listening to God from before I was born—we flew to South Africa when I was six weeks old because my parents obeyed a call from God to serve there as missionaries. When I was six years old, my parents listened to a plea (similar to the Macedonian Call in the book of Acts) from a man who asked if anyone would help him tell his people (in Botswana) about God. As a family, we experienced many "God moments".

A favorite place to walk and listen to God

Over the years, God has spoken to me in many different ways, and often with a combination of the following:

1. The Bible
2. Prayer
3. Circumstances
4. Friends
5. Thoughts that wouldn't leave me alone

I'm continuing to learn how to listen to God better. 

Usually, I sleep well and don't wake up in the middle of the night. However, there have been many times when God has woken me up in the middle of the night and impressed on me that I need to pray for a specific person or prayer request. When I wake up in the early morning hours, I've learned to pay attention to who is on my mind and pray for them. Sometimes I hear about specific answers to prayer, and sometimes I don't.

God has also been dealing with getting rid of idols in my life. He has shown me that anyone or anything that I put above Him is an idol. If I act out of fear, I am allowing people's perceptions to be in control. If I eat comfort food rather than bringing my problems to God, I am making food an idol. It is not only important for me to start the day by spending time with God and in His Word, but also to talk with Him and listen to Him as I walk through each day. 

Lately, God has been speaking to me about obeying the speed limit. I have never received a traffic ticket, but that doesn't mean I always obey the rules. In the past, I usually drove anywhere from 5-10 km over the speed limit on the highway. My conscience started bothering me. Most people don't see me as a rebel, because I tend to be sneaky in the way I rebel. God reminded me that He knows, even if no one else knows. He sees my heart. Going the speed limit is not so much about the speed, but about submitting totally to God and obeying those He has put in charge.

Two resources I am digging into this year are 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice by Mark Virkler and a Bible Memory seminar with Graham Best.

I will end with one of my favorite "God moments" from this past year. One day last summer, my boys begged me to take them to garage sales. We wrote down addresses that were advertised and went from sale to sale, discovering new-to-us treasures. At one sale I noticed there were three lawn mowers for sale.

That evening, I pulled our lawnmower out of the garage, filled it with gas, checked the oil, and pulled the cord. It had worked the week before. No matter what I tried, it would not start. I prayed, and I asked a couple other people to try, but it still wouldn't start. Then, I remembered the garage sale with three mowers. My schedule was full and I knew I wouldn't be able to get back to the sale until late the next afternoon. "Lord, keep a lawnmower there for me."

The next day, I prayed several times. We really didn't have money for a new mower. Finally, I was able to drive to the place we had been the previous day. I held my breath as I walked up the sidewalk. When I looked up, there was one mower left! "Thank you, Lord!"

I approached the owner, an elderly man, and told him I wanted to buy his lawnmower. "You know, I just don't understand. You saw I had three lawnmowers for sale. This is the best one, but nobody bought it."

I smiled. "God kept it here for me."

"This is my favorite lawnmower. I wouldn't even be selling it if my relatives hadn't given me a new mower as a gift. I still like this one better, but I can't sell the new one."

I felt sorry for him, but happy for me! He showed me how it worked...one pull and it roared to life. The price was less than half what a new one would cost. I came home feeling like God had blessed me with a Cadillac lawnmower. God is indeed a good, good Father who takes care of us in amazing ways.

How has God spoken to you? What is your favorite "God-moment" from the past year?