Page 101 - The Prosperous Way _ (APRIL 2024 v3)

STEPPING STONES

STEP 2 — LISTENING: EXPECT TO HEAR GOD’S VOICE

As we pray and ask God for open doors, and to give us opportunities
and strategies to make wealth, we know that God will respond to our
prayers. However, how are we to be certain that we have in fact heard
God? How are we to ensure that we do not miss God’s direction when
He speaks? First, we can be assured that our God speaks. He speaks in
many different ways. He may speak to one person in dreams. He may
speak to another by bringing alive a passage of Scripture while reading
the Word. To some, He may reveal His will as a compelling urgency to
act; to others as a gentle, persistent nudge, a tugging on the heart.
Sometimes He leads us through seemingly chance encounters, or by a
series of coincidences, and we know—this could only be God.

We will each, over time, become acquainted with the ways that God
speaks to us. Initially, we may learn through “trial and error”; when we
realize in hindsight that we have “missed” what God was saying. But we
will learn! Jesus tells us that His sheep know His voice, and a stranger’s
voice they will not follow (John 10:4-5). Be confident that we will each
learn to recognize our Master’s voice. But even when we have learned
how God speaks to us, there will be times when we are uncertain that
we have heard Him in a particular situation. Here are some steps that
we can take when this happens:

 Check it against the Scriptures. If what you are contemplating
isn’t consistent with the Bible (e.g. it is dishonest), then it’s not
God’s will. (Psalm 37:23 - The steps of a righteous man are
ordered by God) .

 When reading the Bible, expect Holy Spirit to speak and give
direction through the Scriptures that seem to “jump out” to you.
(Psalm 119:105: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto
my path).

 Set some time aside for worship, prayer and fasting over the
matter. (In Acts 13:2-3, while the church was fasting and
worshipping, the Holy Spirit guided them to call Paul and
Barnabas into ministry).

 Watch for confirmation of what you believe God is saying to you:
It may be confirmed by what others say to you or in what seems

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