March 16 - Deuteronomy 9:4

"After the LORD your God has

[crossed over the Jordan ahead of you

and subdued your enemies] for you,

don't say to yourselves,

'The LORD has given us this land

because we are so righteous!'

No, it is because of the wickedness

of the other nations that he is doing it.

Deuteronomy 9:4

 

When good fortune strikes, who do you give credit too? Some give credit to luck and coincidence -- and sometimes it is. Others are wiser; they more frequently give credit to God -- and God's providential hand is very often involved, indeed! 

 

But here's where the problem comes in ... Imagine that you prayed and prayed and you finally, wonderfully got the job you'd been praying for. Well, there were probably plenty of other people who prayed and prayed too. Did God bless you ... at the expense of another? Hmmm. And does this mean that God likes you more than the others? Hmmm. And -- and here's the dangerous step -- does this mean that because you were blessed that approves of everything in your life -- just the way you are? Hmmm.

 

Too many of us are tempted to turn our blessings into "evidence" of God's approval for who we are. And therefore, I've known people who've used life's blessings to justify all kinds of dubios behavior. So what is that standard for righteousness? 

 

Imagine me pointing to the ceiling and saying, "Imagine the best person you know -- Mother Theresa, for example. Let's say she's high up -- on the goodness scale, as high as the ceiling itself. And let's imagine the worst person you know -- a serial rapist and murderer. They're belly is scraping the floor. You, on the other hand, are somewhere in between. And when enough blessings come along, your self-perceived value inflates, and you see yourself rising farther up the scale."

 

But what if I told you the scale wasn't as high as the ceiling? What if I told you that the scale is as high as the sky, because on the scale of God's absolute perfection and unwavering holiness, even the Mother Theresa's are sinful and unclean. 

 

A correct evaluation of ourselves demands -- as today's lesson suggests -- that we don't view good fortune as a prideful testament to how good and righteous we are. 

 

A correct evaluation of ourselves is 1) that we are sinful and unclean, and yet 2) God loves us deeply anyway.

 

A correct evaluation of the world is that in spite of our failings, our God is an awesome God!

 

In Christ's Love,

a very blessed guy

who needs to be thankful

rather than proud

March 15 - Deuteronomy 6:5

You shall love the Lord your God with all

your heart, and with all your soul,

and with all your might.

Deuteronomy 6:5

 

Deuteronomy 6:5 is arguably the second most important verse in the Bible.

• The most important is probably John 3:16 which talks about God's amazing, self-giving love for us: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." That's what God did for us. 
• Jesus made Deuteronomy 6:5 the second most important verse when said that this is what we should do for God: "Mt 22:36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"37 [Jesus] said to him, " "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.'"

You probably know that already, right?!! But do you know what (God-through-)Moses commanded the people to do next? The told them -- and us -- to ...

• 6 Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. How well are you doing at keeping not just the words about loving God in your heart, but a real, live, active love of the Lord in heart, mind, and practice? 
• 7 Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. How well are you keeping God's name and values at the forefront of your family's life -- morning, noon, and night? when you turn on the TV? in the language you use? as your children choose friends? How actively are you teaching God's truths and modeling God's love for you children?
• 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand, fix them as an emblem on your forehead, 9 and write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. When I was in Israel, every door to a home (including the temporary home of our hotel rooms) had this command, called the shema, attached to their door posts. Usually it was a scrolls which was placed in a little cylinder called a mezuzah. Some of the more orthodox Jews also had a little leather case strapped to their foreheads -- although some would argue that what God and Moses meant was carrying this command in the forefront of our minds. Nevertheless, these are constant, visible reminders. What constant reminders do you have to love God with your heart, soul, strength, and mind?

In Christ's Love,

The Guy with the God's Love Tatoo

(I hope you can see his love tatooed

on my forehead through the way I live my life)

March 14 - Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

 

Have I told you about reading through one of my favorite books -- Andy Stanley's, "The Best Question Ever"?

 

He spends the first 20% of the book trying to tell us why he -- of all people -- is qualified to determine what is truly "the best question ever." (I didn't think he made his case very well, but I kept reading.)

 

Then he told us what the best question ever was. He said, before you make a decision, ask, "What is the wise thing to do?" (In fact, he said, look back on all your worst decisions. Wouldn't things have turned out much better if you had asked in advance: What is the wise thing to do?!")

 

With "the best question ever" now defined, the book picked up steam in the second segment. And for the next 75% of the book, Andy Stanley gave some very, very, very wise advice. I loved it. It was practical. But I was missing one thing. This was a church book. It was written by a pastor. Where was God?!!

 

And just about the point I couldn't take it anymore ... almost put it down with only 5% to go ... Andy Stanley landed this faltering plane perfectly. He was writing, in part, to non-Christians. He had been giving wise answers that anyone from most any culture could agree with. But then he settled, finally, on the only answer that could bring hope, saying essentially, "Friends, if you want to be truly wise, then here's what you need to know -- Proverbs 1:7 -- 'The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord.'"

 

That's what God-through-Moses told the Israelites too in Numbers 4:

5 "You must obey these laws and regulations when you arrive in the land you are about to enter and occupy. The LORD my God gave them to me and commanded me to pass them on to you.6 If you obey them carefully, you will display your wisdom and intelligence to the surrounding nations. When they hear about these laws, they will exclaim, 'What other nation is as wise and prudent as this!'

 

7 For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on him? 8 And what great nation has laws and regulations as fair as this body of laws that I am giving you today?

 

9 "But watch out! Be very careful never to forget what you have seen the LORD do for you. Do not let these things escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren.

In Christ's Love,

a wise guy

(not because I am personally wise,

but because I'm seeking to follow

the one who is the source of life)

March 13 - Deuteronomy 1:12

you are such a heavy load to carry!

How can I deal with all your

problems and bickering?

Deuteronomy 1:12

 

The first part of Deuteronomy is a summary of the Exodus. And one of the first things that Moses reminds his people is about how EGR they are.

 

Do you know what EGR means? It's "Extra Grace Required!"

 

Do you know one or two EGRs?

 

Moses knew one or two hundred thousand! "10 The Lord your God has increased your population, making you as numerous as the stars [and] 12 you are such a heavy load to carry."

 

With God's prompting, Moses appointed some administrators to handle all the legal problems, family issues, and political bickering. But here's your question: How do you handle the EGRs in your life?

 

Ninety-nine percent of the time, I'd advise against handling it in court (even though Moses does make allowances for that). And ninety-eight percent of the time, you can't delegate it to an administrator (as the leader of nation, like Moses, did).

 

Rather, I'd suggest Jesus' method. "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev 19:18, Mt 22:39), yes ... but also "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you and lend to others, expecting nothing in return" (Luke 6:27,35) "for love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8).

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who needs to go on The Moses' Diet

(love makes me lighter and free, while

bickering and pettiness pack on the pounds)

March 12 - Numbers 35:9-10

The Lord said to Moses ...

"When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan,

designate cities of refuge to which people can flee

if they have killed someone accidentally."

Numbers 35:9-10

 

Surely you've heard the phrases, "accidents happen!"

 

They do.

 

And with these cities of refuge, God established a place for grace. The cities of refuge provided for two things: 1) protection, and 2) with protection, the gift of time. God's plan for his people was to allow enough time to let tempers calm and forgiveness to happen.

 

Hopefully you've witnessed time healing a few wounds.

 

What are some wounds for it is about time for you to take a step and initiate a little healing?

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's had to cry

"accidents happen" ... a lot

March 11 - Numbers 33

This is the route the Israelites followed ...

They left ______ and camped at _______

(now repeat that last line 43 times in a row!)

Numbers 33

 

My favorite vacation was ten years ago. We took our boys to Alaska!!

 

I'd saved money and vacation time for about four years, and though we still did it on a very tight budget, we had time to do it right. (And we invited my parents along.)

 

We camped the whole way. The distances in America's last great wilderness were so vast that we'd drive for a whole 12-hour-day and then we camp for a full day to enjoy that location's sites. 

 

Mary Louise and I had a little pop-up trailer. My parents had a tiny RV. When we'd pull into the campground, it would take Mary Louise and I a full hour to crank up our little pop-up, reset all our gear, and get three tired boys situated. Meanwhile, my parent's little RV was instantly set up -- pull it in and you're done -- so while Mary Louise and I worked, my mom would graciously cook us all a good dinner. It was as close to luxury as we got!!!

 

And when we got home, we loved our soft warm bed (and our flushing toilets!).

 

I can imagine that the Israelites had far less luxury along their journeys. No cook. No running water. No flush toilets. No pop-up and even slightly padded bed. No car and trailer to haul all your goods. And -- most important of all -- their journey wasn't for six weeks, it was for six years ... and then another six years ... and then another six years ... and then another twenty-two years. They went from young men to old men to having their children digging their graves. A generation came and a generation went and still they journeyed on. 

 

Don't pass too quickly over this list of moves. Sure, you can skim it quickly. But this chapter represents something that was anything but quick. This was a lifetime of hard moves and new addresses for a whole generation ... and it was all spent camping in a hot, dusty desert.

 

In Christ's Love,

a very blessed guy who can 

easily overlook the hardship of others

and can forget to say thanks

for the ease of my own life

March 10 - 1 Peter 1:7

These trials are only to test your faith,

to show that it is strong and pure.

It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold

-- and your faith is far more precious

to God than mere gold.

1 Peter 1:7

 

At the end of a Numbers 31 battle, "21 Eleazar the priest said to the men who were in the battle, "The LORD has given Moses this requirement of the law: 22 Anything made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, or lead 23 ... must be passed through fire in order to be made ceremonially pure. These metal objects must then be further purified with the water of purification. ... 24 [Then] on the seventh day you must wash your clothes and be purified. Then you may return to the camp."

 

Now, I don't for sure, but I'd guess that this battlefield purification had something to do with blood stains. Touching blood, if you remember from Leviticus, was one of the things that would make a person unclean -- think potentially infectious. Therefore, the soldiers were told to wash their uniforms in water and sterilize their weapons with fire.

 

Fire purifies.  

 

And in today's lesson Peter reminds us that our faith -- which is as valuable to God as gold -- needs to be continually purified. This world's trials constantly splatter us with blood, cake us with grime, and drown us in the muck. But it's the trials that also reveal our true character.

 

• Whenever we confront evil, enduring those heated struggles are as a valuable as gold.
• Whenever we endure temptation, conquering that blazing desire is as precious as silver.
• Whenever we rise to the occasion, conquering stress has shown us what is like bronze.

None of us wants to endure the warmer parts of the process of purification, but it's then that we need to remember that the results are heavenly.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's been

on a few gold rushes

(and grown deeper because

of a few trials) 

March 9 - Numbers 27:2

[The Lord said to Moses ...]

Transfer your authority to him so

the whole community of Israel will obey him.

Numbers 27:2

 

Part of my training for ministry was a year's worth of internship at a church in New Mexico. At the end of the year -- with still a year's worth of classes to go -- the Senior Pastor came to me and said, I am retiring in three years, would you be willing to come back in a year, be my partner in ministry for two years, and then take over the church.

 

"Yes!" (We loved that congregation.)

 

In general, planned transitions like this don't work in churches. But this one did -- and the success was no credit to me! The success rested squarely on the shoulders of a Senior Pastor who was willing to follow the plan that God gave to Moses.

 

God said, "transfer [part of] your authority to [Joshua] so the whole community ... will obey him." Now, most other translations imply "part of" rather than "all of" Moses' authority, but that's what the Senior Pastor did for me.

 

At the beginning of my first year of ministry, he said, "What changes do you know you want to make?" and I gave him a list. He said, "Good. The first year, I'll be the Senior Pastor and you'll be the Associate, and we'll make all the changes that first year so that I can take all the heat for changing things. Then you can come in as Senior Pastor and lead a more peaceful year."

 

How wise is that?! And how awesome of a blessing was that for a young preacher just starting out!

 

It is the wisdom of God! "Transfer [part of] your authority to [Joshua] so the whole community ... will obey him."

 

Who do you mentor -- from children, to co-workers, to employees, to disciples -- that could benefit from this heavenly wisdom?!

 

In Christ's Love,

Joshua

(to Pastor Gibson's Moses)

March 8 - Numbers 25:1-2

While Israel were camped at the Acacia Grove by Shittim,

the people began to have sexual relations with the women of Moab.

These women invited them to the sacrifices of their gods,

and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.

Numbers 25:1-2

 

What is your weak point?

 

Far too many people are sexually vulnerable. And it's not a new invention.

 

But here's the danger ... Whenever we give-in to our weakness -- whether it's anger, pride, greed, lust, jealousy, gluttony, or sloth -- we have suddenly made some thing more important than God. 

 

In the case of these Israelites, they made sex (and the pretty women they were with) a more immediate priority than God. That was bad. What was worse was that once they had compromised their beliefs, it made it easier in additional ways to go along with the world's flow. Indeed, it made it easier to bow down to the gods of this world.

 

What is your weak point?

 

And which of your desires tend to come ahead of your relationship with God?

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's like a house made of sticks

(I've had to tackle so many weak points

that I have to constantly avoid the big bad wolf)

March 7 - Numbers 22:28

Then the Lord gave the donkey

the ability to speak.

Numbers 22:28

 

The stories in the book of Numbers keep getting stranger, don't they? 

 

In fact, these are some of the stories that make people doubt the Bible ... and/or ... play cut and paste with the sections that don't make sense to them.

 

But, if you think about it, the story of Baalam and his Ass is only strange if you don't believe that God is powerful and the spiritual realms are real.

 

I often explain it like this ... I point to room we're in and say, "Is this world real?" Yes! And then I point to the ceiling, "Is heaven real?" Yes! "Now, normally," I say, "we can't see heaven and the spiritual realms, can we?" No. "So imagine a barrier between them which is like six feet of concrete." Okay. "Now, occasionally," I say, "isn't the barrier between heaven and earth a little thinner? For example, didn't God speak to the prophets and don't angels occasionally appear?" I guess so. "So it's not that heavenly realms aren't real, it's just that we don't commonly see what's all around us, right?"

 

"So, is it possible ... reasonable ... that '31 the Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand'?"

 

And here's the thing ... If we admit that God is powerful and the spiritual realms are all around us, then God occasionally opening people's eyes is indeed reasonable. Furthermore, if we believe that creator of heaven and earth is truly powerful, then it may be very weird but couldn't it be equally possible that God could make a donkey protect his master's life ... and on extraordinarily rare occasions, talk to his master about it?!!

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who'd rather believe

in a powerful God of the (wierd but) possible,

than a little God for whom all things

are impossible

March 6 - John 3:14-15

Do you know the verses that

lead into the famous John 3:16?

Jesus sites Numbers 21:4-9 ...

 

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that

whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

John 3:14-15

 

The context for Jesus' assurance that "God so loved the world" is more book of Numbers' "judgment" (or as we defined it yesterday -- more book of Numbers' grace and patience). Let's hear the story again ...

• "4 The people grew impatient with the long journey," and yet "God so loved the world." 
• "5 So they began to murmur against God and Moses," and yet "God so loved the world."  
• "6 They complained, 'Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this wretched manna!" Listen to that! They were saying, "We hate the gracious provision of God." And yet "God [still] loved the world."   
• "6 So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among them, and many of them were bitten and died" ... but "whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."   

In the verse after John 3:16, Jesus says, "17 God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." Therefore, when people cried out, "We have sinned," the God of saving (and not of condemnation) said, "8 'Make a replica of a poisonous snake and attach it to the top of a pole. If they simply look at it, those who are bitten will live!' 9 ... and they were healed."

 

Wait!

 

What healed them? Three things ... 

1. The first was repentance ... from the sickness of sin. 
2. The second was obedience ... Snakes on poles don't make a lot of sense as a healing tool to me. But obedience is a trustful doing ... even when it doesn't make sense.
3. The third was faith ... Not faith in a snake-shaped idol of bronze ... not faith in crucifix-shaped idol of wood ... but faith in a living God -- a living God "16who so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whosoever believes in 14[his] Son [who was] lifted up (14just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness) 15may have eternal life.

In Christ's Love,

a guy who still thinks that's a strange story

but chooses to trust and believe anyway

March 5 - Numbers 16:31-32

[Moses] had hardly finished speaking ...

when the ground suddenly split open ...

and swallowed the men ...

Numbers 16:31-32

 

This is a strange part of the Bible isn't it?

 

It seems like on every page there's rebellion from humans. And it seems like on every page there's judgment from God.

 

Understandably, many people don't like judgment and so they make an intuitive leap. They point at Jesus and say that God is forgiving. (And that is absolutely true!!!) But seeing judgment as an absolute contradiction to grace, they wind up writing off large sections of the Bible as ancient myth. (And that is absolutely dangerous! In fact, Jesus himself didn't write off the Old Testament, he says he fulfilled it -- Matthew 5:17.)

 

Rather than writing off large parts of the Bible, we would be wise to know recognize that grace and judgment are not contradictory ... but complimentary! In fact, grace proved judgment! If judgment is what we deserve, then grace is what saves us. And if there is no judgment, there's no need for grace.

 

Therefore, I'd like to suggest an alternative view to this section of the Bible. Rather than seeing Numbers as a chapter of rebellion and judgment; I invite you to look at it as a reminder of God's extreme patience in the face of constant human rebellion.

 

Patience: The people complained about hardships (11:1), the lack of water (20:2), the lack of meat (11:4), "giants" in the Promised Land (14:1-4), Moses' leadership (16:3), God's leadership (21:5), and the consequences to their own sin (16:41). They were disobedient, disrespectful, and discontent. But God was patient and he ultimately, powerfully, and victoriously delivered them anyway.

 

That's grace!

 

In Christ's Love,

a rebel

who's required a lot of patience

March 4 - Numbers 14:11

And the Lord said to Moses,

"How long will these people

treat me with contempt?"

Numbers 14:11

 

What a sad phrase.

 

But it wasn't just the Israelites who wandered about the Wilderness of Sin and treated God with contempt. Too much of our current world is wondering about in the wilderness of sin too. And you and me -- if we're honest -- find that we're too often camping out on the desert's dry and dusty outskirts.

 

As I read this, I can also imagine Jesus -- when he was whipped and stripped and hammered to the cross -- saying the exact same thing as God did in that ancient wilderness: "How long will these people treat me with contempt?"

 

But lest we hopelessly despair, we must also remember this same Jesus making one more important statement during those dark hours: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

 

That is God's heart. Just a few verses from here, we are reminded that "18 the Lord is slow to anger and filled with unfailing love, forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion." Indeed, thank God we have a shepherd who is "[God is] gracious ...and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing" (Jonah 4:2).

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's thankful and amazed

(I've crossed my Lord too many times

and yet is he still bore a cross for me)

March 3 - Numbers 13:27, 28, 31

"We came to the land to which you sent us;

it flows with milk and honey ...

Yet the people who live in the land are strong,

and the towns are fortified and very large ...

We are not able to go up against this people,

for they are stronger than we."

Numbers 13:27,28,31

 

Which direction do you tend to look in?

 

In Numbers 11, the people of Israel looked backward in nostalgia: "5 We remember the fish we used to eat in Egypt for nothing, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6 but now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna to look at."

 

In Numbers 13, they looked forward in fear, shying away from entering the promised land because the spies said, "we are not able to go up against this people for they are stronger than us."

 

In both cases, they -- like many of us -- failed to look to the blessings of the present. Indeed, they failed to acknowledged

• God's daily provision (manna),
• God's daily leading (remember the cloud that led them day and night in chapter 9),
• God's gracious promise (that he would return them to the land promised to Abraham), and
• God's omnipotent power (in their recent memory he'd parted the Red Sea).

I know from my own life that I get into trouble whenever I look backward with either a longing nostalgia (which takes my eyes off the blessings of today) or a paralyzing guilt (which makes me forget God's promise to forgive).

 

I also get into trouble when I stare too far into the future. Why? Because the unknowns can easily swamp me with fear. Either that or sadness can swamp me as I worry about the blessings I'll be missing from today. I can remember, for example, wishing that time would slow down and my kids wouldn't grow up.

 

But here's the point. The God who provides for me today ... and leads me today ... and promises me a hope and a future ... and reigns always with his power ... this God will take care of all my tomorrows!

 

And what I long for is the true promised land. Not here on earth, but up in heaven. And that's a promise God's power and provision holds eternally secure.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who's seizing the day 

March 2 - Numbers 9:15, 17-18

On the day the tabernacle was set up,

the cloud covered the tabernacle ...

Whenever the cloud lifted from over the tent,

then the Israelites would set out;

and in the place where the cloud settled down,

there the Israelites would camp. 

At the command of the Lord the Israelites would set out,

and at the command of the Lord they would camp.

Numbers 9:15,17-18

 

I love that simple pattern of obedience:

• At the command of the Lord the Israelites would set out,
• and at the command of the Lord they would camp.

I wish I'd always have that kind of clear-cut obedience, but I also realize that it would be nice to have such clear signs:

• Whenever the cloud lifted ... the Israelites would set out;
• and [when] the cloud settled down... [they] would camp.

Wouldn't it be nice if God's plans for you came with a trail of smoke leading the way? "Come on, Marvin, your next job is over here. Follow the bouncing cloud." 

 

No ... it's not quite as simple as "follow the bouncing cloud." Rather, life is like a river. God does give us some firm guidelines and barriers. His word and his laws are like immovable rocks on one side of this river of life (and sometimes people crash their life into them and their lives are a shipwreck). 

 

The other side of the river is softer. Character and wisdom are more like weeds and reeds. God allows us a whole lot more leeway on this bank. Indeed, most of us get bogged down from time to time by compromising our character and settling for dubious wisdom. Yes, too much of our lives -- whether we realize it or not -- is spent tangled in the weeds.

 

On the other hand, the safest, quickest, most joyful course is going God's way -- straight down the middle of the river of life. Some people see straight as a straight jacket, but there's still a lot of freedom. We can paddle fast ... or gently drift ... or pause all day to fish. We can spend our time enjoying the journey and singing praise as we go.

 

Here's all we need to know: God's plans for us are clearer than we think. All we have to do is go God's way rather than get tangled up in our own.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who notices the clouds more

when he not fighting the weeds

March 1 - Numbers 7:89

Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle

to speak with the LORD, he heard

the voice speaking to him from between

the two cherubim above the Ark's cover

Numbers 7:89

 

Imagine that you have to choose between two job opportunities: Do you stay where you're at or do you move your family across the country? Don't you sometimes wish that you could hear from God like Moses did?! All you'd have to do is walk into a holy place, and you'd hear his voice with the clarity of HD radio.

 

The question that people ask all the time is: How do I hear the voice of God?

 

It's more doable than most people imagine. Here's the process:

1. Read the Bible a lot. Why? Because the Bible is God's Word. If God speaks to you, it will always agree with the Word of God. So the better you know God's Word, the more likely you are to know if "a word" is from God.
2. Pray a lot. There are two parts of prayer -- speaking and listening. Spend more and more time doing both.
3. Ask God. Actively seek God's wisdom and will.
4. Ask other godly people. This comes with a warning. Asking other godly people does not mean go fishing for advice until you hear the advice you want to hear. It simply means that part of listening is using the good, honest, faithful, God-honoring resources that God has put around you.
5. Cleanse Yourself. Cleansing occurs first through the confession of sin. But there's another kind of cleansing needed in order to hear God more fully: We have to free ourselves from our personal wants and desires. Jesus did this in the Garden just before his death, praying, "Not my will, but they will be done."
6. Listen. Now comes the time in prayer to listen. When you're new to listening, you may need to take a retreat to silence the world and hear more clearly.
7. Test the Advice. Our own voices in our own heads are so strong that we need to test whether the "word we hear" is from ourselves or from God. If it's from us, it's more likely to disagree with the primary directives of scripture. If it's from God, it will always agree with the main calls of scripture.
8. Repeat. As we do this again and again -- ground ourselves more and more in God's Word, empty ourselves, and take time to listen -- we'll get more and more familiar with God's voice.
9. And here's a hint: God usually calls you to do things you wouldn't choose to do on your own. He wants to stretch you in godly ways. Why? The more pliable we are, the better we can serve him.

 

In Christ's Love,

a guy who wants rabbit ears

(and a sloth's willingnes to just sit there)