Stephen G. Derges explores how we hear God

Stephen G. Derges

Over the past couple of months, we're explored together the way God speaks into our lives through events, circumstances, people and of course, the Bible. He uses different approaches to get our attention and we've looked at the fact that sometimes we either don't want to hear, don't hear or don't understand what God wants to say to us.

In this last article on the subject I want us to look at three final issues.

Firstly let's recognise God doesn't dance to our tune.

Whilst having a regular, preferably daily, quiet time of intimate communication with God is an important factor in hearing from Him, we should also recognise that He often puts certain things in our way from time to time. We meet someone unexpectedly and it leads to a situation that we had never anticipated - something totally out of the blue. Or we 'hear' a quiet voice inside telling us to take a certain course of action. I've found that God doesn't always like to fit in with my schedule.

Impromptu promptings like this are often an inconvenience - they stop me doing what I'd planned to do - but they often result in extraordinary results. Take today, I'd forgotten I had to write this piece for Cross Rhythms until my PDA started flashing at me. I had to change my plans so instead of enjoying an afternoon in the sunshine, I'm stuck in front a PC. Inconvenient? I should think so! But what will be achieved from it? I don't know right now but I believe that because you've logged on to the site and are reading this, it's an indication that God is in this venture. Somehow He will use it to achieve His purposes.

Secondly how do I know it's God speaking to me?

Here are a few principles:

• Check it out against the Bible. The Holy Spirit is never going to encourage you to do something that can't be confirmed by what's written in God's Word to us. He will not lead you to steal; attack someone; commit adultery; cheat or lie. He will check us if we're slandering others; gossiping about people; acting in a proud way or putting others down. These types of actions just do not fit with Biblical principles of integrity, justice, mercy and loving others as you love yourself.
• Check it out with others. Having people around you that you trust is vital. We need other people's input and perspectives. Proverbs 27:17 tells us, "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." I'm so grateful for friends who have helped me develop and knocked off some of my rough edges. We may have a personal relationship with God but our faith is designed to be shared - not just with those who are seeking a relationship with God but with other Christians too. We need people to speak into our lives whatever God would have us hear.

  Take a look at the number of 'one another's' there are in the Bible. You'll find over 50 in the New Testament which guide us as to our relationship with other Christians. Christians are not designed to be loners and we need people around us who will instruct us as we open up our lives to them.

  If you don't have a close confidante with whom you can share - get one!

• Check it out with yourself. The Bible says we need faith to please God, but whilst He may put us in new situations where our faith is stretched, He promises He will never put us in a position in which we can't cope.

  Of course there will be times when we get it wrong and when we fail, but if you find young people an irritation (as if?) it's a fair bet that God won't suggest you should be a youth leader. He's also unlikely to call you to be a worship leader if you can't sing a note in tune or can't play a musical instrument. However I am aware some people may disagree with that statement!

  God is aware of our natural gifts, abilities and talents; what we like and dislike; how we act, react and interact with different people - He did make us after all - so why would He want to put us in a totally unnatural position? Of course I'd love to be a church pastor in Hawaii but even I don't have the faith to believe God is calling me to move there - yet!!