Ever since I was saved, I've been keeping a "God journal" with themes, lessons, prayers, testimonies...the list goes on. Anyways, I just switched over to a new journal for the fall, as I had used up my old one. In the front of this journal, I wrote down three simple steps that I'd been taught, which help me hear and discern the will of God. (Getting these steps in such a way itself was a good listening exercise), but anyways, here is what I wrote down:
Step 1. Then came the Word of the Lord
Step 2. Therefore the Lord will give you a sign
Step 3. Write down this vision
All three of these steps are based on bible verses. I've found that these three steps, in this order, usually establish and validate the things that God is speaking to me. Let's look at them in more detail.
Step 1. Then came the Word of the Lord. This is based on Haggai 1:3. The personal things God speaks to us--I'll call this rhema or the rhema word from now on--often have to be waited for! I find that God sometimes makes us wait on Him longer than we'd like in order to get a pure revelation or message. As seen in that section of Haggai, the Word of the Lord is often contrary to our own thought patterns. It can often be against our own desires and human will, too.
The Lord often speaks to me in His still small voice, as mentioned in the book of Elijah. It's pretty rare for me to hear Him audibly. Another way to hear the Word is through visions. Just look at 1 Samuel 3:1. This verse clearly relates hearing from God and visuals that the Lord often gives. God's rhema word can come through specific passages of scripture, also--especially the ones that the Holy Spirit bears witness to. To summarize, step 1 involves receiving a clear directive from God. Don't worry if these statements are simple...they often are. God's word will bear witness with His Spirit inside of you, and steps 2 and 3 will also validate it.
Step 2. Therefore the Lord will give you a sign. This is based on Isaiah 7:14. 2,000 years ago the Lord gave His people a powerful sign in the birth of Jesus, and He continues giving His people signs to this day. I find God confirms His rhema word in a variety of ways, and I'll list them in their order of significance for me. Just know that God will speak to you in a way that your heart and mind can understand, so your list might be different than mine. I find that the Holy Spirit brings to life the things that validate the rhema God's given, to confirm it for me and to build my faith. I like to call this quickening. (Note: I did not coin this term by any means! Fellow Christians have really paved the way for listening to God...I first heard this word used when reading Smith Wigglesworth, then learned more about it on an awesome website called Thequickendword). Anyways, here's a short list of things that God often quickens to me personally, as a way to confirm a message or revelation:
-Confirming bible verses
-Prayers of fellow believers
-Conversations of fellow believers
-Church sermons
-Christian community. For me this includes a few prophetic websites.
-Conversations...of just about anyone! Psalm 119:91...all things are your servants
-Street signs
-License plates
-Randomized email or Kindle advertisements
And the list goes on! Like I said, all things are His servants, and throughout the day, God uses many different things to confirm the messages He's given me. A WORD OF CAUTION: Note that this is step 2...I recommend that you use signs only to confirm the things that God has already spoken to you in step 1. Digging into signs by itself is dangerous stuff, because there is always spiritual warfare going on. But praise Jesus that greater is He that is in us, than he who is in the world! We need to be walking in the Spirit to receive unadulterated messages from our Lord, and you will find that God gives you many confirming signs when you're right in the center of His will. I like to think of step 2 as icing on the cake.
Step 3. Write down the vision. This is the simple one. Based on Habakkuk 2:2, this calls for writing down the specific things God's telling you through steps 1 and 2 (ie, the vision), and making it plain for yourself. By keeping a journal of Gods rhema word, you can document the works of God in your own life and the lives of others. Over time, your journals are an excellent tool to build your own faith, and they can also be a great testimony to others. Consistent journaling is important...that is, if you want your life to be guided by the One who has all wisdom, power and love!
So, these are the three steps that the Lord has given to me to receive, confirm, and document His rhema word. There are so many ways God can speak, so ask God to speak to you in a way you can perceive, and look for the Holy Spirit to confirm to you the things of our Lord Jesus.
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