Date: Tuesday June 19, 2012
Today's Chapters: Psalms 44-49
Message Title: Be Still And Listen

Hello My Friend,

When was the last time you honestly just sat still and listened to all the things that are around you? It is amazing what you hear when all is quiet and you notice the sounds around you, birds chirping, rain dropping, the wind, the air conditioning coming on, a fan whistling. Whether they are peaceful or annoying to you it does not take long before you get use to them and do not notice them as much. Now, think back to the time when you first received Christ as your Savior, or realized that it was time to have Him in your life, you were scared, excited, and eager, you heard God speaking to you and listened to every word He said. Just like that noise that becomes something we do not notice after some time, God's voice can become something we do not notice. We can hear His voice again, we just have to be still and listen. “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” - Revelation 3:20.

Whether we realize it or not, it is much easier to hear God's voice when we are in the midst of affliction. Why? When things are going well we can become confident that we can handle things on our own and do not need God's help. It often takes affliction for us to be reminded of what God did for us and that He is merciful to us even when we forget Him for a time.

“We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old. How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out. For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah. If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.” - Psalm 44:1-3,6-8,20,21.

While we do not intend to forget that God is with us even when things are going well, it happens more often that we realize. However, God does know our heart and if it takes affliction to get us to be still and listen for Him that is what He will do. Who are those who have God's favor? It is those who have put their faith and trust in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ (His death, burial, and resurrection). We cannot get God's favor nor get to heaven by our own merit, without Jesus we cannot be saved. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” - Romans 3:23,24.

God speaks to us in many ways, most of all through His Word, without His Word we would still be trying to make it through this journey on earth without going insane, which incidentally many have and survived. David faced a lot of affliction, but he knew he could not get through it without God. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” - Psalm 46:1-3,10,11.

God truly is our refuge during our affliction, He will give us hope and encouragement even through the darkest times. I do not know how I made it through twenty-five years of my life without hearing God, but I do know that He was watching over me the entire time waiting for me to be still and listen to Him. I admit it was in the midst of severe affliction that I finally heard Him. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” - 1 Peter 5:10.

Another way for us to hear God speak is to sing to Him and praise Him, as our joy in Him increases we begin to hear the sounds of His voice. “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.” - Psalm 47:1,5-8.

God is awesome and in control of all things, believe it or not, even affliction is a blessing and sooner or later blessings of affliction will become blessings of joy. “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.” - Psalm 48:1-3,13,14.

Yes, even upon death God is our guide, we will either be directed to heaven or hell, no amount of money, serving God, or power we have here on earth will save us from hell, we must have received Jesus Christ as our Savior or we will be sent straight to hell upon our death. “Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world: Both low and high, rich and poor, together. My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:) That he should still live for ever, and not see corruption.” - Psalm 49:1-3,7-9.

God is speaking to you in some way, be still and listen for Him, He will give you what you need.“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.” - Mark 4:23-25.

Today's Prayer: God, In the midst of my struggles I admit that I do not always hear You speaking to me. I try so hard, but cannot hear You through all the noise in my head telling me to just give up. Lord, break through the voices in my head and all the distractions of the day and let me hear You. Help me to be still and listen for You among all the chaos, lead me and guide me in Your will, and help me to trust You through my struggles, I know I can endure them through You. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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