Listening to the Lord’s Instruction
While driving down 140 W toward Oklahoma City, Howie was overwhelmed with tiredness and asked me to drive. I immediately thought of the last time that happened to him. We were in Texas when the engine blew on our Sprinter van shortly after I took over the wheel. With this in mind, I began to pray.
Broken down on a lonely Texas road
Traffic was heavy and we entered a construction zone, funneling traffic down to one lane. I was behind a truck with a car in tow. I was following about four car lengths behind the vehicle at 35mph. when the Lord said to me, “Don’t follow so closely”. Immediately I applied the brakes and dropped back, just as the wheel broke off the car in tow, leaving it rolling down the lane and the fender in the center of the lane. Sparks flew as the axle dragged along the highway.
I praise God for his guardianship in giving me a warning, though it didn’t at the time make sense to follow, I did. With a line of vehicles following closely behind me, it could have been a real mess, but because I followed the Lords instruction there was no accident.
Often I am asked how the Lord speaks to me. I describe it as a strong thought that crosses my mind, always something I was not thinking about, and seemingly out of the blue. When I am in doubt, I simply ask “Lord, is that you”? He has always given me an immediate answer if it is “Yes”. If I don’t hear an answer, I assume it was not Him, or check my heart to see if I am harboring sin that obscures His voice.
I am reminded of the scripture that I read the evening I was baptized. It is Jesus speaking and found in the Gospel of John. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
There is another verse I am reminded of found in 1Kings where God spoke to Elijah. “And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:12
Listening for the Lords voice requires a quieting of our own. Some people have a very hard time quieting their thoughts, but with practice it can become quite natural.
So Lord, teach us to quiet our mind, still our own voice and show us how to wait on you.