Always Be Ready: Hear God's Voice

Always be ready. Jesus is coming back for his bride. We do not know when he will return, but we are called to be ready for his return (Mark 13:32). And as we wait, we are also to be ready each and every day to give a reason for the hope that we have found in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 3:15) – to share his gospel with the world. When I was playing basketball at UNC, we were taught to always stay ready for the ball. Alert. On guard. Hands lifted up. Prepared if the point guard decided to pass the ball. Poised and alert for a teammate who might decide to throw a “no look pass” in your direction. We must be ready as followers of Jesus. But how do we do this? The key: learn to hear the voice of God. Jesus says in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Did you know that God wants to speak to you? Can you hear his voice? His voice is not always audible. Although sometimes it may be. Have you ever felt a prompting in your heart to go to someone and pray for them? Maybe you have had someone’s face come to your mind’s eye continually in prayer? Ever heard the whisper of a name while praying? Learn to be obedient to what you’re sensing if it is, in fact, the Lord. Maybe you need to give a financial gift to someone in need. Or maybe you need to go to that person and share the gospel. As a side note, here is a simple way to remember the gospel of Jesus so you can share him with others. It’s as easy as A-B-C. Admit you are a sinner. Believe in Jesus’s life, death and resurrection as the forgiveness for your sins. Come to Jesus and make him Lord of your life. Remember, we are in sales. God is in management. We are to be faithful to spend time with him, learning to hear his voice and be obedient. Leave the outcomes to him. Practice hearing his voice. It is a crucial part of learning how to always be ready.