Title : Be still

Text : Mk. 1:35, Psalm 46 :10
Preacher : Soo-Youl Cha

Hearing the Holy Spirit's leadings is vitally important to a healthy Christian life. The Spirit nudges us to accept God's offer of salvation, assures us that we are members of God's eternal family, encourages us to grow and guides us along the path God has chosen for us. But often when the Spirit tries to get through to us, He gets a busy signal. Because we are sometimes very busy that we don't have time to talk to God.
What change do we need to make so that when God speaks to us through his Spirit, we will be able to hear Him?

1. The Discipline of Stillness (Quiet Time)

People who are really interested in hearing from God must pay a price: they must discipline themselves to be still before God. This is not an easy task, but it is essential.
(Psalm 46 :10). Jesus developed the discipline of stillness before God in spite of his extremely busy life. Crowds followed him wherever he went. Daily he preached and taught and healed. It was hard for him to find time alone to pray, and he had to get up long before dawn to do it. (Mk 1:35, re-read)

2. Strength from Solitude

God's power is available to us when we come to him in solitude, when we learn how to focus and center our hearts and be quiet before him. When we learn the discipline of stillness before God, we find that his leadings come through to us clearly, with little interference. Power comes out of stillness; strength comes out of solitude. Decisions that change the entire course of your life come out of the Holy of Holies, your times of stillness before God.

3. Questions for God

God is willing to be asked. You may have several questions after spending times with the Lord.

4. Tuned in to God's voice

God continues to speak to his people today, and I am convinced that there are two reasons we don't hear his voice more often. The most obvious reason is that we don't listen for it. We don't schedule times of stillness that make communication possible.
You should build the discipline of solitude right into your schedule.

5. Listen and Obey

The other reason we may not hear God's voice is that we don't plan to do anything about it, God speaks to us through many ways, we listen and nod. But if we don't follow up on the Holy Spirit's leadings, he may see no reason to continue speaking.
Open your mind and hearts to God's leadings. You will be amazed at what he will do. Amen.