Listening to God is a very important thing to do when living this life of faith. God speaks through His Word and through the Holy Spirit and gives us insights in walking this walk of faith. King David was one who listened to God and consulted Him for almost every step of his day. God's blessing on David included an ongoing conversation and close relationship that David depended on, and the fruit of that relationship was many victories and a kingdom that was feared and respected by all the world. Here is an example of the relationship King David had with God. 1 Chronicles 14: 8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he marched out to meet them. 9 The Philistines arrived and made a raid in the valley of Rephaim. 10 So David asked God, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord replied, “Yes, go ahead. I will hand them over to you.”11 So David and his troops went up to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “God did it!” David exclaimed. “He used me to burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So they named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”). 12 The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, so David gave orders to burn them.
Giving credit where credit was due was not difficult for King David and you probably noticed what David said in verse 11, where David says "God did it!" The mighty Philistine army could conquer many armies, but they could not conquer the army that God was leading. What is our wisdom in light of these verses? We ask God to fight our enemies for us and follow His wisdom and strength into battle. I know the evil seems overwhelming at times and it may cause you to doubt from time to time. Do not doubt God!! How much are you corresponding with God throughout the day? How close is your relationship to God? There is no barrier on God's end because the sacrifice of Jesus dissolved what could have been the smallest of distance in His relationship with us. The problem is with us..... Yep. I said it and we need to fix that problem right now. Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock. Do you do it? Matthew 7:7-12 records His Words. Matthew 7: 7“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
James wrote the following words to make sure our hearts were right in the asking. James 4:3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure. Since God is changing us in this moment-by-moment relationship, He is also changing our "wants" and in doing that God grows us in our attitude and our desires. King David asked God "what" to do and God told him and that advice was followed by God's power being seen and evident. In 1 Chronicles 14 we see another time that David consulted God and God told him what would happen and how to respond. Here are the verses. 1 Chronicles 14:13 But after a while the Philistines returned and raided the valley again. 14 And once again David asked God what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” God replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar trees. 15 When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, go out and attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” 16 So David did what God commanded, and they struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
Listening to God is listening to the perfect plan for your life, and we can come boldly to God for His plans because of the blood of Jesus. So why don't we? Satan has to throw a wrench into all of this by being the accuser that keeps us from totally trusting and relying on God, so ignore him and trust God and everything will fall into place. Step away from religion and step closer to God in this God-supplied relationship and you will realize the power of God in your life. Follow God's Word in dealing with the threats in your life and trust His wisdom above all other advice and God will win battle after battle. Remember, when it happens you must also say as David did "God did it!"
Vesselogical Out,
David Warren
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