We must be willing to persevere and listen for God to speak. If we are not willing to wait and listen for God to speak, we will misunderstand how God is working in our lives.

Testimony – George Mueller (nineteenth century)

George Mueller was a pastor in England who demonstrated great faith in listening to and obeying God. He longed to see God provide and move in such a way that only God could receive the credit.

During his life, Muller saw God work through him to build four orphanages that housed two thousand children. God also allowed him to distribute over eight million dollars for ministry causes. Through prayer, God guided and equipped George Mueller to accomplish what many considered impossible. How did he do it? Here are the steps George followed to hear God speak:

  1. I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome when our hearts are ready to do the knowledge of what His will is.
  2. Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.
  3. I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Spirit guides us at all, He will do it according to the scriptures and never contrary to them.
  4. Next, I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God’s Will in connection with His Word and Spirit.
  5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His Will to me aright.
  6. Thus, (1) through prayer to God, (2) the study of the Word, and (3) reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge; and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly.

Action Steps

To hear God speak we must surrender our lives, seek Him in the Word of God, and survey our lives to discern how God is working. Answer the following questions to prepare your heart to hear God speak:

  1. Are you praying with the intention of learning God’s will or are you whining about your problems?
  2. Do you really want God’s advice on how to live?
  3. Can you identify a prayer that God has answered in the past year?

Prayer For The Day

Father, without you, I can do nothing. By faith, I trust your way is the only way. Help me to learn to patiently wait for your voice and your answers to my requests.