Lately, we have been challenged at the Oasis to get into God's Word more and spend more time with God.  I know, brand new teaching!  Ha.  We have been focusing on how to hear from God.  I have been challenging myself to get into the Word and not settle for the 1 verse that is listed in the devotional.  But to really read that verse over and over, meditate on it, pray and listen for God to speak.  I am not expecting an audible voice, but am trying to align my spirit with God's Spirit.  In fact, the other night I was having negative thoughts about something that come up and realized that those were my spirit's and not God's.  I have to fight to allow God's spirit to be in control and not my flesh's response.

God gave me this illustration about hearing from God and my devotional life:

A teen asked me how long I have been playing the guitar.  I said 15 years.  One would think that I would be a pretty good guitar player since I have been playing for a while.  However, I am not.  I know the same 10 chords that I have known since I started playing.  There are a bunch of new songs in the youth song book that I can't play.  I can't pick and struggle with strumming patterns.  I am not getting better.  However, I am not working at it.  I don't practice or challenge myself to get better.  I try a new song and give up quickly.

The same thing applies to my spiritual life.  No matter how long I am a Believer/Follower of Christ, I need to learn more.  I need to get into the Word more. I can't just come once or twice a week to church and expect to grow much.  The professionals in the world know that it takes time, hard work, practice to get to the level of a professional (welder, sports, business…).

Are you putting the time needed into your spiritual walk to get closer to God?  If you invest more time and energy in knowing Christ and the Bible, you will hear better.

PB