Discerning the Voice of God

My small group ladies Bible study completed Priscilla Shirer’s study “Discerning the Voice of God” yesterday. WOW–doesn’t even begin to describe how this study spoke to me. I’m not sure I can even put it into words to be honest. If I had to boil it down to one sentence it would be, “Listen intently, trust completely, obey radically!!”

I want to share with you some of the quotes from this study that have spoken so intensely to my heart in hopes that they will encourage you. These are only a small sampling of the words that the Lord used to touch my heart and grow my faith. Do this wonderful study if you have a chance!! Priscilla’s first study, “He Speaks to Me” is equally wonderful!!

“Did Jesus love me enough to die for me, but not enough to speak to me?” – Priscilla
“If we come to Him doubting His ability to speak, we will have a difficult time listening. So we must come expectantly.” – Charles Stanley
“If we settle ahead of time that we will obey whatever God tells us, we will go into our time with him ready to hear his voice.” Henry and Richard Blackaby
“The Holy Spirit is God’s control tower. He sees the end from the beginning and seeks to guide us through this life.” – Priscilla
“No longer do I frantically search for God’s will. I frantically search for God.” – Priscilla
“He will be all in all or He will be nothing. God will not be used. He will not help men to attain ends which, when attained, usurp the place He by every right should hold in their interest and affection.” – A.W. Tozer
“The more you know and believe to be true about who God is and what He can do, the more willing you become to obey what He commands.” – Priscilla
“Don’t spend your time wishing you could get out of the season of life you are in; rather, spend your time looking fervently for God’s hand in your situation.” – Priscilla (This one really steps on my toes!!)
“One of the ways we know his voice is that its content is such that he keeps us at a point of trusting Him for something new–in ourselves, in our loved ones, in our ministry. Trusting Him for deeper levels. For more growth. For wider usage. And always advancing from faith to faith.” – Peter Lord
“God doesn’t just speak to be heard. He speaks to be obeyed.” – Priscilla
“Two important prerequisites to hearing God clearly are to have an open vertical relationship with the Lord and to be submitted to His plan for our lives. If there is unconfessed sin or continued disobedience in our lives, there will be a ‘closed heaven’ above us and a disruption in hearing from the Lord. God cannot draw near to us while we are walking away from Him through disobedience at the same time.” – Jim Cymbala (emphasis mine)