Can God speak to you? Or maybe more appropriately, will He?
I think Jesus answers that question quite clearly:
12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
Luke 5:12-13
Jesus makes his position clear: He is willing. The man with leprosy asked an honest question, though. It is the question lodged in most of our hearts. “Will God ____________?”
When it comes to hearing God’s voice prophetically, He has made it clear. We are to “eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially that we may prophesy,” 1 Corinthians 14:1. The problem is not with God’s willingness, it is mostly with our willingness to ask.
Even a question asked with little faith, as the man with leprosy did, is precious to God. Had he not asked, Jesus would not have healed him. This man came to Jesus, knowing for sure Jesus could heal him. He just didn’t know if He would, but the man realized it couldn’t hurt to ask.
Even if we ask God in honesty, what does it hurt to ask?
For many, it is the fear of feeling let down. What if the man had asked Jesus and He said no? What if he asked and wasn’t healed? Back then leprosy was a death sentence that separated you from society. That produced the kind of desperation in his heart where he didn’t care if Jesus said he wasn’t willing, it was still worth asking. We need that kind of desperation when we ask God to speak to us.
Desperation for a word from God will cast out fear. If we throw ourselves into the hope that God is good, then no amount of disappointment will keep us away. No fear of rejection will prevent us from falling at Jesus’ feet asking for His voice. There will be no barriers.
Are you that desperate? Are you that willing to ask God to speak to you? Are you afraid that if you don’t come with enough faith, He won’t speak?
The question is not whether God is willing: that has already been settled. He is. The real question is, are you willing to ask no matter what the result?
A prayer for today:
Lord, give me grace and boldness to ask for Your voice. Give me unshakeable faith in Your goodness so that I will keep asking until I hear Your voice. Make me desperate for Your voice and Your presence.
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
I am a writer, author and purveyor of ink on paper. I also preach, teach and create Excel spreadsheets.