PropheticReformation.com

An open door to the prophetic?

hearing God...

I have been asked many times if there is anything we can do that helps us to hear God's voice more clearly.

The answer is undoubtedly, "yes!" But how it happens is so obvious to you, and yet may also surprise you...

Some of the best known prophetic people are known not only for their public ministry, but also for their radical commitment to prayer. One prophetic minister once confided with me that he sometimes spent as much as 6 hours in prayer.

That sounds excessive, but when you witnessed the accuracy of the prophetic words you could see why it was so essential.

It was also extremely important to the Lord, who spent the evening in prayer before calling the disciples to their apostolic ministries.

Prayer is an open door to the prophetic that few go through.

What is it about prayer
that makes it such a necessity?There are few things that express our trust in God more than prayer, and it is clearly a means whereby our trust, confidence and faith in Him can increase. God delights in being trusted by us and when we do seek His face in prayer it demonstrates an attitude of dependence and true humility.

I recently found this encouraging verse in Habakkuk which demonstrated an intent to seek God, so that God would give revelation. It gives the intimation that if you want to hear God concerning an issue that the appropriate action is to proactively seek God in prayer.

“I will take my stand at my watch post
and station myself on the tower,
and look out to see what he will say to me,
and what I will answer concerning my complaint”.
(Habakkuk 2:1)

Defining.
All we think or feel about God comes to expression in our prayer. Listen to people pray and you will soon discover much about their relationship and friendship with God.  Right now, many people will probably want to move on and read something else but this may well be one of the most useful articles you find on the internet.

What a challenge!

Scripture emphasizes our need to trust God when we pray. Prayer defines you. It marks you out under the scrutinizing gaze of heaven as one who either trusts God or one who looks to their own devices to answer the problems of life. There is no wisdom in the saying, "God helps those who help themselves."

What is certain is that  in every circumstance, God expects as our Father for us to look to Him in prayer. As we come to Him with muttering lips, broken heart or shouts of joy, approaching Him, making your requests known to Him demonstrates true humility – God is our provider and source of all our blessing.

But first, here is  a warning. The prophet I mentioned before that prayed for six hours or so, rested on his reputation. Not intentionally, but he became less diligent in his pursuit of God, and the enemy came laid siege to his life and he fell in gross and demeaning sin.

It is only God's grace that enables us to stand.

There were some things that Jesus urged us to pray daily, one of them was that God would lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil (Matt 5:13).  Can you remember when you last prayed that, either for yourself or for others?

It could of easily have been John MacArthur, or John Piper that fell. Scripture tells us to watch our lives, carefully. Pray matters, and changes things, but an excellent reputation doesn't. Prayer presses us forward into fellowship, relationship and friendship with God. You wait all your life and three 'ships' come along together!

Laying a foundation for
a powerful assertion . . . As well as trusting Him, God wants us to love Him and have fellowship with Him. In that fellowship and friendship he influences our lives. We learn not to worry because God does not worry. We learn to be patient because God is patient.

When we pray, God allows us to be involved in activities that are eternally important. Praying for Churches, individuals, nations, God is prepared to hear our cry and comes to us with astonishing promise, "If my people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray...".

Prayer changes the way that God acts!

You have been patient! Here is the punch line.

Every single person I have spoken to about this subject agrees that the most astonishing, amazing or life changing moments when God has spoken into their lives, came almost exclusively, when they were, or had been praying!

When we pray, God speaks.

Can you hear the prophetic dilemma that James brings to us?

“You do not have, because you do not ask.” (Ja 4:2)

When we ask, God responds! Are you asking?

So, in your radical pursuit of God I raise a challenge and a probing question to you. What are the things that you are asking God for? Are there say, 10-12 things you ask God for on a regular basis, day in, day out?

In the next section I am going to give you some very encouraging help...

God is giving you an open door to the prophetic.

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