do you want a WORD?

Have you ever asked someone their opinion about something and you had no intention on really hearing what they said. You didn't plan on following their advice or giving their opinion much thought in the first place. You were simply asking for the sake of asking. 

If we aren't careful, we will be tempted to approach God in this same complacent and apathetic manner. Asking His opinion but never intending to abandon our own agenda. Desiring to follow Him, but only when His leading is where we want to go and is what we want to do. 

Obedience is about being willing to do whatever He asks, with a willingness to do whatever it requires to make it happen.  Obedience is the key to hearing the still, small voice of God.  You see, it's not just about being passionate about hearing, but it's all about our determination  and passion to do what God commands. We can't honestly expect to hear God speak if we aren't really willing to obey what He says. 

Before we anticipate a Word from God and ask Him to speak, we need to be spending some time taking a deep look at the desires of our heart. Do we desire to obey? The progression of our spiritual walk hinges on it. If we don't have a desire to obey, then we simply won't. A desire to obey our God comes from a passionate love for Him. The more we fall in love with our Lord, the more we will be purposed about obedience. It won't be hard. It won't a struggle. It will be the greatest joy of our lives. 

We have to WANT a Word from Him. We have to truly expect to hear and truly commit to obeying.

It is necessary to purposefully carve out time to sit in God's presence and be open and available for when He wants to speak. Sometimes He may call you just to sit and simply bask in His sweet presence. Other times He may call you to dig into the holy scriptures and devour them like never before. He may take you to one small passage and have you meditate on something specific He wants to reveal to you or He may lead you to read a several chapters of even a whole book of His Word. Be open to what the leading of God is. Allow His Spirit to speak to your heart and allow Him to move in your life as He desires.

Once God knows that you are serious about developing a more intimate relationship with Him no matter what the cost, He will begin to speak. God wants us to want Him. He longs to whisper to our spirits. He is just waiting for us to be ready to respond in obedience.

Pray. Meditate. Long. Desire. And I promise you my precious friends, you will hear from Him.