Listen: Guided by the Holy SpiritSample

Your Original Design

History reveals that God is a brilliant and willing communicator. God is never satisfied with a one-sided conversation. God enjoys a conversation. Christ paved the way to restore that intimate connection between you and the Father. God’s favourite topic of conversation is indeed Christ – and you, fully alive in Christ. He promised a life better than you could ever dream of.

John 10:1-5 (MSG) explains it like this -

‘Let me set this before you as plainly as I can. If a person climbs over or through the fence of a sheep pen instead of going through the gate, you know he’s up to no good – a sheep rustler! The shepherd walks right up to the gate. The gatekeeper opens the gate to him and the sheep recognize his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he gets them all out, he leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won’t follow a stranger’s voice but will scatter; they aren’t used to the sound of it.’

The beauty of what this scripture is telling us is that you’ve been wired to hear Him. Your spirit recognizes His leading. As we grow in relationship with Him, we more readily recognize His voice or the absence thereof. So, hearing God isn’t something that is reserved for the deserving, for the very spiritual individuals around us. It is actually a very basic capacity available to every believer.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMPC) offers insight on this–

‘Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.’

It is profound how the writer distinguishes between your own insight and the wisdom of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 2 has much to say in this regard. The writer of Corinthians reminds us that only the Spirit can know what is in the mind of Christ. Then he drops a truth bomb and reminds us that we have access to the mind of Christ through a personal relationship with Him. Surely, this is the best news ever!