The Mental Barriers to Hearing God’s Voice

In review of James 1:21 it says, “Get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls” (NLT).

As I look closely at James 1:19-25 this morning I find a lot about listening and about doing. In summary I read that I must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. For human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore I need to get rid of all filth and evil in my life, and humbly access the word God has planted in my heart, for it has the power to save me.

But I'm not to just listen to God's word. I must do what it says. Otherwise, I am only fooling myself. For if I listen and don't obey, it much like glancing at my face in the mirror. I see myself, walk away, and forget what I look like. But if I look carefully into the perfect law that sets me free, and if I do what it says and don't forget what I've heard, then God will bless me for doing it.

What James is telling me is that when I talk too much and listen too little, I communicate to others that I think my ideas are much more important than theirs. I’m advised to reverse this process. Put a mental stopwatch on my conversations, and keep track of how much I talk and how much I listen. When people talk with me, do they feel that their viewpoints and ideas have value.

These verses also speak of anger that erupts when my ego gets bruised. When injustice and sin occur, I should become angry because others are being hurt. But I should not become angry when I fail to win an argument or when I feel offended or neglected. Selfish anger never helps anyone.

James advises me to get rid of all that is wrong in my life and "humbly accept" the salvation message I have received, and because it along can save me.

Not only is it important to listen to what God's word says, but it is much more important to obey it and do what it says. We can measure the effectiveness of my Bible study time by the effect it has on my behavior and attitude. Am I putting into action what I have studied?

Just like the varied reception quality on cell phones, the same is true with me. I must be positioned correctly to hear God speak. Often I don’t give God a chance to talk to me. I’ve already made up my mind. I want to do what I want to do, not what God wants me to do. My heart is hardened, and I’m unwilling to listen.

When I have a closed mind, he’s not going to talk to me!

If I really want to hear from God, I need to understand what is keeping me from hearing from Him. I’m learning that there are three mental barriers that keep my mind closed to God’s message.

1. Pride. If I think I don’t need God in my life and I want to handle things myself, I’m probably not listening for God to speak. Pride keeps me from being open to the possibility that God might want to say something to me.

2. Fear. I may not be hearing God because I’m afraid to hear God speak. I may not want to do what he tells me.

3. Bitterness. When I hold on to hurt, resentment, or a grudge, I’m not going to be able to hear God, because my heart is hardened. It has grown cold and made me defensive, even to God’s love.

I need to get rid of the bitterness, fear, and pride that keep you from hearing God’s voice and living out his purpose for your life.

James 1:21 says, “Get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God

has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls” (NLT).

“Humbly accept” means I let go of my pride and stop trying to figure it out on my own. This is the key to opening my mind and heart so that I can hear from the Lord.

Bottom Line:

Get rid of the crud, and in humility accept God’s word. Allow it to be planted in your heart.

What this means to me:

I need to examine my life and rid it of the things that are filthy and evil. I need to humbly accept the word God is planting in my heart. For this has the power to save me.

As I reflect on this, I can see that I struggle with humility and really listening. I’ve been trying to take and live out what I hear, and while it does come through at times in my life, it’s not always the driving force. My own pride gets in the way. I can also relate to at times not really knowing what God has to say, because I may not want to do what is says. So, this morning Father I pray that you will help me in eliminating my pride and to be humble. Also remind me via the Holy Spirit to put into practice what I’m studying and learning.

Learning To Focus on The Futhre, What Is Unseen

In review of 2 Corinthians 4:18 it says, “Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That’s why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen” (CEV).

In 2 Corinthians 4 I’m reminded that God in his mercy has given me a new way, therefore I should never give up. I should continue to reject all shameful deeds and underhanded methods. I shouldn’t try to trick anyone or distort the word of God. Instead, I need to tell the truth before God. I'm much like a fragile clay jar containing great treasure. This makes it clear that any power I have is from God, not from myself.

In this life, I’ll get pressed on every side by troubles, but I won’t be crushed. I may be perplexed, but not driven to despair. I may be hunted down, but never abandoned by God. I may get knocked down, but I am not destroyed.

I should never give up, though my body may be dying, my spirit is being renewed every day. For my present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for me a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So I don't look at the troubles I can see now; rather, I fix my gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things I see now will soon be gone, but the things I cannot see will last forever.

Paul reminds me that though I may think I'm at the end of my rope, I'm never at the end of my hope. My perishable body is subject to sin and suffering, but God never abandons me. Because Christ has won the victory over death, I have eternal life. All of my risks, humiliations, and trials are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate his power and presence in and through me.

As I face great troubles, it's easy to focus on the pain rather than on my ultimate goal. Just as an athlete concentrates on the finish line, ignoring their discomfort, I too must focus on the reward for my faith and the joy that will last forever. No matter what happens to me in this life, I have the assurance of eternal life, when all suffering will end and all sorrow will flee away.

It is easy to lose heart and quit. Rather than quitting when persecution wore him down, Paul concentrated on experiencing the inner strength that came from the Holy Spirit. I should not let fatigue, pain, or criticism force me off of the job. I need to continually renew my commitment to serving Christ.

I need to remember that there is purpose in any suffering. Problems and human limitations have several benefits: (1) They remind me us Christ's suffering for me; (2) they keep me from pride; (3) they cause me to look beyond this brief life; (4) they give me the opportunity to prove my faith; and (5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate his power. Learn to see troubles as opportunities.

This life is not all there is, there is life after death. Knowing that I will live forever with God in a place without sin and suffering can help me live above the pain that I face in this life

So, everything I see around me is temporary. The building I’m in, the computer I working at, and even my body will one day disappear from existence. Yet it’s what I can’t see around me that will last forever. And those realities are what truly matter.

The Bible tells me in 2 Corinthians 4:18, “Things that are seen don’t last forever, but things that are not seen are eternal. That’s why we keep our minds on the things that cannot be seen” (CEV).

Spiritual realities are more real than physical ones. I need to focus on the spiritual ones, what’s really real. I’m learning that there are five spiritual realities I need to take to heart.

God made you to love you (see Jeremiah 31:3). God created you to love you, and he wants you to learn to love him back. This is the most important reality of life.

I was made to last forever (see Ecclesiastes 3:11). The evangelist Billy Graham, who passed away in February, talked about death this way: “Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead. Don’t you believe a word of it. I shall be more alive than I am now. I will just have changed my address. I will have gone into the presence of God.”

God has prepared two eternal places. Both Heaven and Hell are real, literal places. They’re not just “states of being.” Ultimately I get to choose where I’ll spend eternity. I won’t accidentally find myself in Hell one day. I’d be there because I chose it or refused to choose Jesus and spend forever with him in Heaven. Because I choose to make Jesus the boss of my life, I'll spend eternity with him in Heaven. If I had choose to reject him, I’d spend forever in Hell. There is no middle option.

I will get no second chances to make my choice. My choice had a time limit. I may have an entire life to make the decision, but I’ll never know when my time on Earth is over. There is no chance to change your mind after death.

Nothing matters more than eternal realities. What I do with these five truths will not only affect my eternal destiny, it also transforms how I live on this side of eternity.

Bottom Line:

What we see won’t last, therefore we need to keep our minds on the eternal and unseen things.

What this means to me:

What I see before me today, won’t last forever. It’s the things I can’t see that will be eternal. Therefore I should always focus my ultimate thoughts on the future unseen things.

As I reflect on this, I’m glad I have made the choice to make Jesus the Lord and leader of my life. I shouldn’t let troubles and difficulties (the large pool of work and demands) get to me. The difficulties are teaching me and building my character. It also helps serve as an example to others. I’m also reminded that I shouldn’t try to trick anyone or distort the truth. The other night, I was more interested in getting an updated solution in place. I let fatigue, and potential criticism force me to try to hide the truth. I’m reminded that I need to tell the truth before others as if it was before God. It is my commitment to serving Christ, therefore I ask you father for forgiveness.

Having Heaven In Mind Changes Everything About How I Live Today

In review of Hebrews 11:15-16 it says, “If they had wanted to, they could have gone back to the good things of this world. But they didn’t want to. They were living for heaven. And now God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has made a heavenly city for them” (TLB).

In Hebrews 11 I’m reminded of the faith that Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah had. They all died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and actually welcomed it. They all agreed that they were foreigners and nomads on earth. They were all looking for a country they could call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, and has prepared a great city for them.

I am a foreigner and this world is not my real home. I cannot live here forever. As such It is best for me to not have the mindset to be attached those this world's desires and possessions that I can't leave them when God commands.

As I read their stories I can see that all of these folks of faith may have died without receiving all that God had promised, but they never lost their vision of heaven. It can be easy to become frustrated and defeated because my needs, wants, expectations, and demands are not immediately met now that I follow Christ as my Savior. I can also feel discouraged because the achievement of my goals seem far away. When I find myself in this situation it’s best for me to look back and take courage from these heroes of faith, who lived and died without seeing the fruit of their faith on earth and yet continued to believe.

Having Heaven in mind can change everything about how I will live today. If I’m headed to Heaven, then that reality should impact how I live here on Earth.

When I keep this in mind, my value system changes. Instead of living for the here and now, I start to live for eternity. I can also live knowing my future is secure. No matter what happens to me on Earth, I’ll spend an eternity with God in a place more amazing than anywhere I have ever been.

I’m learning that to live for my eternal destination that I:

Should not be distracted by temptation. Peter tells me, “Dear brothers, you are only visitors here. Since your real home is in heaven, I beg you to keep away from the evil pleasures of this world; they are not for you, for they fight against your very souls” (1 Peter 2:11 TLB). I can be distracted by lots of things, both good and bad. I need to stay focused on what’s of eternal significance and learn to delay gratification. Our society tries to convince me to do just the opposite. Instead stay focused on what’s ahead.

Next don’t be discouraged by trouble. Paul tells me, “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT). When I live in light of eternity, trouble just doesn’t bother me as much anymore. I know troubles won’t last forever, so I simply don’t give up.

Lastly, focus my energy on what will last. “Let heaven fill your thoughts; don’t spend your time worrying about things down here” (Colossians 3:2 TLB). Fulfill the purposes of God in your life. Live a life of worship. Build relationships with God’s people. Invest your time in becoming more like Jesus through discipleship. Serve others with abandon. Tell people about Jesus. These are the activities that will last forever.

I was made for Heaven. Since I’ve made Jesus the leader of my life, I’ll get to spend eternity there. That's truth that needs to sink in and be allowed to change

Bottom Line:

Don’t turn back, keep living for the long term heavenly city God has in mind.

What this means to me:

Instead of just giving up, I need to keep in mind and live for the long term heavenly city God has made for me.

This morning I especially needed the reminder about not being discouraged by trouble. Living in light of eternity helps me to not let today’s troubles bother me. The trouble will not last forever. So I need to never give up!

My First Purpose Is to Be Loved by God

In review of 1 John 4:19 it says, “We love because he first loved us” (NIV).

Today’s verse from 1 John 4 reminds me that God is love, and all who live in love, live in God, and God lives in them. And when I live in God, my love grows more perfect. Such love has no fear, because perfect love will expel all fear. I can love others because he loves me first.

I’m also reminded that when I gave my life to Christ, I received the Holy Spirit. This is God's presence in my life and proof that I really belong to him. He gives me the power to love. I can rely on that power as I reach out to others. His love will quiet my fears and give me confidence. God's love is the source of all human love.

It's easy to say I love God when that love doesn't cost me anything. The real test of my love for God is how I treat the people right in front of me. I cannot truly love God while neglecting to love those who are created in him image.

I think this morning that God really wants me to understand how important it is to know how much He loves me. Love is always a response to love. The Bible says, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19 NIV). If I find myself saying, “I don’t love God enough,” it’s because I don’t understand just how much he really loves me.

Part of understanding my life’s purpose and calling, is to begin with God’s nature. God is love. Love is the essence of his nature. The only reason there is love in the universe is because of God. Ants and snails do not love, but I was made in God’s image, so that I can love.

The reason I’m alive is because God wanted to love me. The first purpose of my life is to be loved by God! While it's important to serve, obey, and trust him, my greatest purpose is to love him.

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure” (Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT).

My first purpose is not to do anything but to just be loved by God.

Bottom Line:

Love because he loves us.

What this means to me:

My ability to truly love others is because he first loved me.

Today, I will keep in mind that God loves me. What happens in my life are all part of his purpose for me. As such I ask Him to guide my actions and help me to love others through my interactions with them. I also ask him for his peace as I manage a growing todo list and set of deadline driven requests.

I Can Bring My Messes and Failures to God

In review of Psalm 57:3, it say, “He will send down help from heaven to save me because of his love” (TLB).

In Psalm 57 David speaks of God's faithful help and love in times of trouble. I can be assured that when I face trails, God will be there to quiet my heart and to give me confidence.

Because of His great love for me I can cry out and ask Him to have mercy on me. I can look for his protection. I can hide beneath the shadow of His wings. I can cry out to you, because you will fulfill your purpose for me. I can know that you will send help from heaven to rescue me, and disgrace those who hound me. I know that you God will send forth unfailing love and faithfulness. In any time of need, God will rescue me.

Sometimes I have the feeling that I need to clean up my act before I can come to God. It’s a notion that “I’ve got to get it all together. That there are a few things I need to get right in my life first, and then I’ll come to God.”

However this is much like brushing my teeth before going to the dentist to have my teeth cleaned, or washing the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, or picking up the house before the house cleaner gets there! Why would I do this?

The truth is, God doesn’t expect me to clean up my act before I approach him, the death and Resurrection of Jesus are God’s statement on that. Jesus spread out his arms and said, “I love you this much. Now, just come as you are.”

In Psalm 57:3, the Bible says, “He will send down help from heaven to save me because of his love” (TLB). That’s what Jesus did on Easter. And that’s why I can bring my messes and failures to Him. God wants me to come just as I am.

It’s never to late for me to come to God with what’s going on in my life. I really don’t need to clean things up first. He welcomes me no matter what’s going on. He is there for me, I just need to ask him for his help. As I think about what’s going on in my work life and my team’s current workload, I ask you Father to help guide me in my planning, scheduling and handling of my communications with others. I ask you to help me to articulate and prioritize work items and communicate them to the team. I give you any concerns and feelings of being overwhelmed I’m having going into this week. I ask for your peace as I work through them as If I was doing them for you. I also ask that you help grant peace and grace from those who are expecting the work elements to completed. I ask you to quiet my heart and grant me peace.

Thank you Father for this reminder this morning from your Word. It reminds me that I don’t need to do things on my own strength.

Bottom Line:

God will help because he loves us.

What this means to me:

Because of His love for me God will send down help when I need it