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In the spiritual realm and in the world setting, life is headed toward a definite climax and it’s our responsibility to be making a difference in how the end result turns out. The writer of Hebrews compares our lives to a race. He wrote, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2) In a race, the runners don’t sit on the sidelines as mere observers….NO….they are the ones out there moving, they are the ones involved, they are the ones who will make a difference in the results of the outcome of the race. They are MOVING FORWARD! They are headed somewhere. They have direction and motivation. It matters whether they run or walk, whether they give it all they’ve got or whether they are just barely putting forth any effort. They are out there to give the race everything they’ve got. They are there to win the prize!
So, have you given any thought about where you are headed next in your spiritual race? Here are some ideas that may help.
1. Set aside some quiet time - “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) You can’t seek the Lord with all your heart in a 5 or 10 minute prayer session before you run out the door every day. You must set aside some quality time devoted to just being alone with God. You need to shut out all outside influences, let everything else on your “to-do” list go, and determine to hear from God. Sometimes it is beneficial to go away to a peaceful place such as the mountains or the seashore, any place where you can leave everything else behind. You need to turn your cell phone off, leave all your electronics behind, and just concentrate on Him. It’s not an easy thing to do, but very necessary if you really want to hear from God.
For me, right after Christmas each year, I decide on about 3 days when I can lock in some quality time with God. That means that I forfeit outside activities and just spend time finding out what direction God wants me to go in for the New Year. I love the New Year for that very reason. It’s exciting for me to hear from Him and head out on the adventure that He has for me in the coming year. Luke 5:15-16 tells us, “However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.” If Jesus, with all that He was responsible for, needed to withdraw to a quiet place and leave the crowds behind to pray and spend time with His Father, how much more do I need to do that? There’s nothing we can do that is more important than that.
2. Approach Him with a repentant heart - “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24) This is one of my favorite Psalms. It is the way we should approach a Holy and a Righteous God. If we approach Him without a pure heart, He will not hear us. We need to humble ourselves before Him. Before we can receive direction and instruction from God, we need to allow Him to clean our hearts so that the lines of communication are completely free and we can hear clearly from Him. We need to have a clear conscience before Him. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) Confessing our sins to God is an on-going process...not just a one time event! If we are harboring unforgiveness toward someone, this is the time to let that go. Anything that may be displeasing to the Lord should be discussed with Him and dealt with. The New Year is a wonderful time for a fresh cleansing.
3. Maintain a willing heart - “And they received from Moses all the offering which the children of Israel had brought for the work of the service of making the sanctuary. So they continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing, and they spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the LORD commanded us to do.” (Exodus 36:3-5) Can you imagine being in a church where there were more people who were willing to do the work that to be done than there were jobs to be done? That would be every pastor’s dream church. God is looking for people with willing hearts!
I was once in a Sunday School class with a man who put it this way, “The answer is “YES LORD”, now what is the question?” God wants us to be willing to do anything at any time He calls upon us. Are you willing? Will you do ANYTHING He asks of you at ANY TIME He desires? Think about the implications of that question before you answer it.
4. Finally, listen intently for His voice - “And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21 amp) Did you know that God is always speaking? The problem is that we are not always listening. He wants to direct our lives, but it’s up to us to position ourselves to hear from Him. When we go to Him in prayer, do we allow Him to talk, or do we go to Him like our spiritual “Santa Claus”, with our list of things we want Him to do? Did you ever go to God in prayer and just ask, “Lord, what would you like for me to know?” And then listen for the answer.
The methods God uses to communicate with us are many and varied. He can speak to us by nature, He can speak to us through scripture, He can speak to us through other people and He can speak to us by the Holy Spirit Who lives in us through His still, small voice. But in order to hear from Him, we must (1) set aside some quiet time. We must shut out all the noise and busyness around us and spend quality time in His presence. Then we must (2) approach Him with a repentant heart. We tend to allow stuff to clutter up our hearts and plug up our communication with God. It’s like there is static on the line and we can’t hear from Him. Then (3) we must maintain a willing heart. Why should God speak to us and give us direction for our lives when He knows we won’t do what He asks us to do? If we haven’t obeyed the last thing He told us to do, then He certainly won’t give us any more direction. He desires a willing heart. And lastly, (4) we need to listen intently for His voice. “LORD, what do you want to say to me?” or “Lord, what do I need to know?” I promise you, He WILL direct your life, and you will be going in the direction He has planned for you.
Prayer…..Father as this New Year approaches, please help me to set aside some time to seek You diligently for direction instead of just running head-long into the coming year. Help me Father to seek You for cleansing. We all go through things in our daily lives...unkind thoughts, unforgiveness, hardness of heart...all kinds of things pile up in us that we need a fresh cleansing from. And then Father, help me to hear You as You direct my path and begin to point me in the direction YOU want me to go. Father, there are a lot of good things that I can do out there...but not all of them are the desire of Your heart for my life. Help me to find and live YOUR desire. I definitely want my marching orders to come from YOU. And then Father, help me to fulfill Your plan for this new year. Give me Your strength and power and abundant grace to do what You have called me to do...in Jesus' Name I pray...Amen.
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