The Difference!

The name of the LORD is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10 NIV
The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. Proverbs 18:11 NIV
Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. Proverbs 18:12 NIV
To answer before listening— that is folly and shame. Proverbs 18:13 NIV

How can a person respond to anyone--intelligently--before hearing what is said or asked?  When they respond without hearing the whole matter, it creates confusion and in many cases, after a person has had a chance to think about what they said--before hearing--they end up back-pedaling or switching positions on an issue or the question posed to them.

If a person has knowledge about a subject or is at least willing to seek knowledge from those who are wiser than he/she is--they might respond without hearing the whole matter out of anticipation. But if they anticipate the wrong question, the answer won't make any sense at all. The wise course of action--hear a matter--in its entirety before speaking and when an answer is not known--don't try faking knowledge because the truth will be exposed and that's when the back-pedaling begins.

We must check our hearing to make sure we understand every nuance of every word before we attempt to respond to questions. We must be aware of our surroundings and check our sensitivity monitor. We cannot say the same things in every venue without regard for those who are listening to us. This does not mean we cannot speak truth--we simply need to be mindful of who is listening and phrase the truth without offending the hearer.

Of course there are those who are so arrogant and high-minded in thinking whatever they say is appropriate they never think before speaking. As a result, they always have to pull their foot of their mouths within hours of speaking rashly. It is this arrogance and haughtiness that will eventually expose them for who they are and then--they shall be humbled before the masses.

In certain venues or circles--those who have great wealth tend to think their wealth entitles them to say anything that comes to mind. They believe their economic status provides them with fortification/safety not afforded to others and they won't suffer any wrong they do. Not so--the wealthy and the high-minded shall fall prey to their own arrogance and then some--if not most--will blame the media and anyone else for their downfall. They will whine louder than a petulant toddler who has been allowed to have their way about everything. Wise parents teach toddlers that they cannot have their way about everything and they must follow rules. When we see overage toddlers acting out--pouting, and whining--we know they never learned that lesson; but the lesson will be learned.

The difference between thinking one is fortified by economic status and those who know the name of The Lord is a strong tower--the righteous run into it and they are saved--from themselves and those things over which they have no control. When a person does not know The Lord--they don't realize the measure of surety and safety they have in Him. In the midst of the storms--regardless of how devastating the damage from the "natural" storms or the spiritual storms--Believers know--everything will be all right. We can stand on our faith in The Lord and face whatever storms come--knowing we'll be victorious.

Let's pray for wisdom and then carefully listen to God when He responds so we'll know how to respond to others--after we've heard the entire matter. That's the difference between the wise Believer and the foolish faking they Believe.

What God Has Prepared!

"We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived"--the things God has prepared for those who love him--these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit." (1 Corinthians 2:6-10 NIV)

Every time I get discouraged (and I do--momentarily) about the things I see, I ask God to speak to my heart and show me the way I should go. For those who understand hearing Holy Spirit and understand that Holy Spirit will only speak those things that God speaks, we know--no matter what things look like--God has prepared something great for those who love Him. 

What has He prepared for you? Only Holy Spirit can reveal God's truth and wisdom to those willing to hear and obey.

And when we are in the midst of doing things and challenges arise, we must be mindful--at all times--of the wisdom we have access through Holy Spirit. We do not have to know how to do all things, but we if we are willing to listen, He can guide us in all things. When others attempt to advise us with their limited "human wisdom" we can go straight to the throne of God, and get wisdom from above--and sit back and watch how amazed others are or will be by the things God accomplishes through us.

Knowing that it is He who accomplishes our success is key. Without God, I could do nothing--worthwhile--for I am totally dependent upon Him. When I need answers and cannot rely upon others to provide them, I ask God and He shows me what to do. Through His wisdom, I have achieved success in areas that amazed me and left others shaking their heads. But when God speaks to us and we see the end results of our obedience, we must not allow our accomplishments to go to our heads, thinking we know anything. I freely admit--I know nothing but God's love and I know His love will see me through anything and because I am willing to hear Him, I can say with confidence--"I can do all things through Him who loves me" and I know, "Nothing is impossible with God". Having this mindset--keeps me moving forward--with great expectation--ready to see and receive what He has prepared for me.

Though the naysayers and doubters would rather complain than believe and trust in God, I will stand firmly, immovable, in my faith in God and my willingness to hear Him. We must be careful when we must interact with others because their lack of faith can creep into our spirits and cause us to miss what God has prepared for us, when we are distracted by the "noise" of unbelief and doubt.

Human wisdom is totally lacking when it comes to understanding the things of the Spirit. Those without benefit of Holy Spirit's guidance will never understand those who operate with Holy Spirit guiding them--every step of the way. Remember, no one has heard or seen nor can they imagine all the good things God has prepared for those who love Him!

Don't Just Listen, Do!

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:19-22 NIV)

We know from reading The Word that faith comes by hearing and hearing by The Word of God--says, Paul to us. Now, James tells us, don't just listen to The Word, do it! If our faith in God is going to be sustained, then we must do what we hear and read from The Word--and not just people.

The Messengers of God are worth hearing when they are speaking God's message. When they veer off into their own imaginations and opinions that are based on nothing--especially not The Word--no one is obligated to hear or do what they say, yet so many people do.

I'm thinking particularly about a pastor--somewhere--who poured bleach over the heads of his congregants to "wash them clean" because of erroneous understanding of The Word. The Word tells us that the blood Jesus shed on the cross is what washes us clean--not bleach or anything else we attempt to do. The psalmist mentions being washed by The Word--not the literal word--but as representing what Jesus would accomplish since He is The Word.

Getting back to hearing and not doing--many people claim to listen to their pastor on a Sunday morning and praise their messages, but when asked what they said--they develop amnesia. "I don't know, but it sure was good." Apparently, they were not the good ground into which The Word was supposed to be sown.

Then there are those who wouldn't miss church for the world--uh uh--no siree, they're not missing church. They are there every time the doors open and listen intently to every word heard, but then their lives don't demonstrate what they heard (unless they heard a message that opposes God's Word). From their actions, one can tell, they didn't hear about loving one's neighbor as themselves because the minute they got into the parking lot, they started cussing out everyone in their way. They get home and talk about everyone who attended church--they talk about the pastor and his wife; they talk about the noisy children; they talk about the ushers who are too slow; they talk about the soloist and how they could see better than they did; they talk about the choir director who, "couldn't direct traffic." They talk about everyone and since they "saw" so much going on, how on earth did they hear any Word?

We can hear without listening and when we pretend to listen the only person we fool is us. God is not mocked. He knows our hearts and He knows when we're pretending to pay attention and so does everyone else when we are not doing The Word.

We "do The Word" when we obey The Word and people know we have either read with understanding or at listened to God's messengers because they see it in our conduct. We who "do" The Word don't live in opposition to The Word, but strive to obey God in all things and that obedience starts with knowing how to love others and God.

Today would be a good day to start--not just listening, but in doing The Word--loving all we meet and greet and making the devil cringe because we even woke up--with desire in our hearts to please God!

Near Enough to Hear and Respond!

"The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." (Psalm 145:18 NIV)

Depending upon the sleeping arrangements in one's home, most parents hear a child cry because they are near them--especially a baby. And when a parent (mother or father) hears a child cry, they respond immediately--addressing the need--to comfort, to feed, to dry--whatever that need is--they fulfill it.

Even when a child is not near a mother, when a child cries--a mother knows that cry and will rush to their assistance. I remember an incident many years ago when my daughter got away from her aunts and uncles. She was 18 months old at the time and we were in a shopping mall with my stepmother, my two brothers and sisters who were between the ages of 14-18. The girls wanted to take my daughter with them while we were looking around the store. Everyone thought my daughter was with someone else, but when I heard a child cry, before I heard the announcement about a lost child, I knew it was my daughter and ran to retrieve her. She was so upset that it took her years (about twenty-five) to get over being alone or going anywhere alone.

If we, as naturally loving parents, will heed the voice of our children in distress, how much more can we count on God to hear and respond to us? He knows before we cry out what we need and because He loves us--He hears and when we obey--He responds and provides our request. When our cries are wrought out of anguish for living according to His Word (Truth), we can expect an immediate response. If we only cry unto Him because of our disobedience, we won't immediately recognize His response because of our own insincerity.

Let's face it. God is not mocked, nor is He fooled by all the trappings we attempt to use to subvert His Truth. If we think we're fooling anyone, it is only ourselves.

Holy Spirit in us is certainly near us and when we abide by His directions, He hears and responds. If He is not an integral part of our lives, we have no need to expect anything from Him--He is far from those who oppose Him. And further in this passage, He reminds us that He will destroy the wicked.

I don't know about you, but I love it when I know He will hear me when I speak to Him, cry unto Him when I see the world turning upside down and know that no matter what men may do, He is able to preserve me unto Himself until His return. Hallelujah!

So live--according to His truth and know that when you cry unto Him, He's near enough to hear and respond.

Can We Hear?

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:29 NKJV)

This admonition is repeated seven times in this Revelation to John by Holy Spirit--and if we believe that seven is the symbolic representation of completion, it is a finished work--the Revelation--and we must hear in order to get ready for His return.

Why do we need to hear? Because in the revealed work--we are reminded of the seven types of churches--their character traits, their strengths and their weaknesses. Regardless of what denomination we proclaim to have an affiliation with, we all fit into one of these types that persist. God knows from the beginning to the end, what we will do and when we will hear and change, which is why is mercy and compassion is so important to us--He gives us room to repent and turn to Him, time after time, but there will come a day, when we will no longer have time to change, so we must make that change--now!

Throughout this book, we are reminded of all these things that the prophets (and all who God used) have said and as Solomon reminds us Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun.God has used people, those chosen by Him to remind mankind throughout our history to choose to do right--His right--and forsake all those things that do not honor Him.

Some of us--as in times past--have selective hearing. We have read The Word, we have heard The Word, and many know when Holy Spirit speaks, but yet we do not hear and obey. When we selectively choose which parts of the message we will hear, we put ourselves into position to miss God and eventually, we will enticed to believe that other spirit, rather than Holy Spirit because that other spirit--manipulates and deceives and tries to make things "sound" like God when they are not.

Engage in conversation with The Lord today and hear what Holy Spirit has to say about everything around us and when you hear--obey for "obedience is better than sacrifice."

Going to church--a good thing when The Word is being taught--does not mean a person has a relationship with God. Memorizing scripture--though a good thing--does not mean we have a relationship with God. We need to know what He said, believe that He is and will be, and obey His commands to love. When we do this, we establish a right relationship with Him and then we can praise Him no matter what happens in our lives because we know--in the end, we win!

We Are Protected!

"The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name." (Psalm 91:14 NLT)

Many of us find ourselves in need of being rescued from various situations in life--car breakdowns, relationship breakdowns, financial breakdowns, and some even from fire or water hazards. Most of those rescues could have been avoided if we had simply made wiser decisions and not put our trust in people or things.

Sometimes, we think we know what we're doing when we purchase certain types of things, but when we do not maintain the things, they will break down on us.

Sometimes, we think we know what we're doing when we decide where to work or with whom we get into relationships, but then we realize we have made a mistake and we either get fired or get so frustrated we quit the job and end relationships.

How about this--let's seek God for every decision we have to make and trust His judgment and guidance in our lives! When we trust Him, we won't have to worry about making wrong decisions.

If we listen to Holy Spirit, He'll remind us when to get the oil checked, the tire pressure checked, and other regular maintenance on a car. He'll whisper in our ears when we're in the wrong places trying to seek employment. He'll also tell us when we're with the wrong people--if we listen.

Loving Him, and trusting Him puts us in a good position to be protected by Him and we can avoid the need for being rescued. However, if our love for Him is real, He will rescue us from ourselves and yet protect us from the unwise decisions we make.

Being in a relationship with God does not mean that we have reached perfection, but it does mean that we should be mindful of those things of which He's trying to warn us. When situations occur over which we have no control, He will rescue us!

I don't know about you, but I'd rather have His protection than the best insurance money can buy. He can do things and protect us from things that cannot be equated with monetary value. He deserves my trust and love beyond any other because It is He who gives me life and reason to keep going forward.

"I really love The Lord! Way back on Calvary, He gave me the victory and I really love The Lord!"

According To His Truth!

"Teach me your ways, O LORD that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever"(Psalm 86:11,12 NLT).

How long has it been since we asked God to teach us--His ways--according to His truth?

This is probably why our society is in the shape it is today! We have not asked God to teach us anything, but have been willing to listen to any and everyone who has something to say that--sounds good. And then we wonder why--we don't hear God speaking to us. If we don't know His voice, how can we hear Him?

The only way we'll ever understand when God is speaking and when people are speaking (their version of truth) is by knowing what He has said in His Word. This cannot be said often enough.
If we know His Word, we'll know His voice because He will not say anything contrary to His written Word! This is why Jesus said through John, "My sheep know my voice and another they will not hear (or listen to, or obey)."

Until we determine, collectively, to hear and obey His voice--our prayers are in vain. It is not that He does not hear us, but that we cannot hear Him or choose to ignore Him when we hear Him because sometimes--what He has to say--we just don't want to hear.

In verse six of this Psalm, the psalmist is asking God to hear his prayer and then goes on to tell Him all of the wonderful things He is to him. Is that what we do or do we just ask--selfishly for those things we want?

Prayer--our communication with God--should not just be about asking for things, but praising Him for who He is to us and our gratitude because He is who He is!

If we want to see a change in our society--change worth having that eliminates the hatred and violence--then those of us who know Him and will hear His voice when He speaks--need to know how to pray, hear, and respond;  know His voice and obey!

Prayer changes things, but only when those who are praying are willing to hear and obey and then do things, according to His Truth!

Can You Hear Him?

Shhh!

Can you hear Him?

Shhh!

Listen closely!

He speaks in a whisper,

In the roar of a storm

Or the quiet of night,

From beyond the natural,

Into the Spiritual realm—

Love flows and overwhelms

As He speaks—

Words of comfort

Words of encouragement

Words of instruction

Words that give life

Words that speak volumes,

In various translations

And languages of all nations,

To the remnant

Who will listen

And obey His voice.

Shhh!

Can you hear Him?

He’s speaking to

Our hearts—even now!

“My sheep know my voice and

Another they will not follow!”

“Love me with all your heart,

Soul and mind, Love your neighbor

As you love yourself.”

“You can do all things

Through Him who loves you

And is always with you!”

“Greater is He—Holy Spirit—

Who is in you than he—the adversary—

Who is in the world!”

“Did you not know?

Did you not hear?

I am not a man

That I should lie.”

“I am The Lord,

Your God; and I

Do not change my mind

Like fickle, unstable man!”

Shhh!

Can you hear Him?

He speaks what is already written

All we have to do is study

To show ourselves approved

Unto Him, teaching His truth

And not our own,

As we promote the Gospel,

The Good News to everyone

With an ear to hear!

Shhh!

Can you hear Him?

© 2014 Mary M. Hall-Rayford

What Does The Lord Say?

"For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." (Proverbs 2:7 NIV)

Solomon's instructions to his son have endured for the benefit of all mankind. The real question is--are we listening?

We listen to everyone who has something to say for just about everything--we know the lyrics of songs that do nothing to honor women or promote respect for others; we listen to naysayers who refute and oppose everything God says; we listen to those who attempt to change God's Word to support their fleshly desires that do nothing to benefit them or anyone else; we listen to the news media who seldom report anything good; we listen to family and friends who do not have a relationship with God and then they advise us; we listen to children telling us how unfair we are and given into their childish demands instead of parenting them; we listen--to just about everyone but The Lord.

If someone asks us what the Lord says about things--we stutter and stammer--trying to remember, but if someone asks us about an athlete or celebrity--we have a ready answer on our tongues. The real problem is-nothing the athletes or celebrities or anyone else has to say will pave the way into heaven--unless they are saying what the Lord says!

Getting into heaven is simple--we discover what The Lord says and do it. He has established a path for us and He is a shield for those who live right--according to His Word. Success on earth is guaranteed for those who hear what The Lord says. What does The Lord say? "If we keep His commands, then everything we put our hands to will have good success." (Joshua 1:7,8) Love--the ultimate obedience to keeping His commands--Him and others--for if we do this--we would not sin against Him or others and especially not our own bodies.

What do you hear The Lord saying to you?

Hearing and Practicing!

"As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” (Luke 6:47-49 NIV) [For context--read the entire chapter]

When Jesus was teaching those who followed Him, He wanted them to understand clearly how they were to respond to what they were being taught. In verse 39, He asks them how "the blind could lead the blind" and what could happen to them (both falling into a pit). If there are those who are hearing the Word, but are not practicing it as a model for others to see, they are doomed!

Church leaders--any and all in a position of authority--must take heed to The Word and know that when we are not doing what we have heard, we will be responsible for the demise of those we lead. We cannot turn God's Word around and say that "it does not mean what it says." We cannot say God has changed His mind about anything that He said. And more importantly, if we do not have proficient reading comprehension skills in which we have developed the ability to understand "inference" we should not be teaching anyone, anything. We become "the blind, leading the blind."

We--the corporate Body of Christ--need to spend time not only reading The Word, but studying what it means with resources available to us and in seeking God for understanding. Then when we understand The Word, we must practice doing The Word on a daily basis. Our role is the bring the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people--not the perverted word of those who scorn and mock God's Word. Know when the enemy has influenced people against The Word. Don't be deceived by those who "mention the name of Jesus" and yet have no knowledge of who He really is or His purpose while here on earth. He has said, not everyone calling Him Lord will be allowed to enter in the Father's presence because in all actuality, they were hypocrites.

We cannot fool God with a superficial Christianity--in name only--and we don't fool people who are able to discern which spirits are influencing people. When we know The Word, we know which spirits are working in people and we should know how to combat them and cause all to be victorious in the name of Jesus.

Let us not be just hearers (or readers) only, but let's practice what we know we have learned in The Word. We should endeavor to do all things that please God--showing mercy because He is merciful, loving all because He is love, and obeying Him in all things rather than man because He is the Master Teacher.

Lord, help us to be better at hearing You and doing what You say, not man. Help us to stay focused on You, not man's inability to receive what You have said. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen!