“How To Listen To God” – Results

The last couple of days I’ve reprinted “How To Listen To God” written by John E. Batterson and reproduced at Barefoot Bob’s web site here. It was long enough I had to break it down into three parts. This is the last – the last few suggestions then the results.

“How To Listen To God”

Suggestions and results…

6. TEST
When the flow of thoughts slows down, stop. Take a good look at what you have written. Not every thought we have comes from God. So we need to test our thoughts. Here is where the written record helps us to be able to look at them. a) Are these thoughts completely honest, pure, unselfish and loving? b) Are these thoughts in line with our duties to our family – to our country? c) Are these thoughts in line with our understanding of the teachings found in our spiritual literature?

7. CHECK
When in doubt and when it is important, what does another person who is living two-way prayer think about this thought or action? More light comes in through two windows than one. Someone else who also wants God’s plan for our lives may help us to see more clearly. Talk over together what you have written. Many people do this. They tell each other what guidance has come. This is the secret of unity. There are always three sides to every question – your side, my side, and the right side. Guidance shows us which is the right side – not who is right, but what is right.

8. OBEY
Carry out the thoughts that have come. You will only be sure of guidance as you go through with it. A rudder will not guide a boat until the boat is moving. As you obey, very often the results will convince you that you are on the right track.

9. BLOCKS?
“What if I don’t seem to get any definite thought?” God’s guidance is as freely available as the air we breathe. If I am not receiving thoughts when I listen, the fault is not God’s. Usually it is because there is something I will not do: Something wrong in my life that I will not face and make right A habit or indulgence I will not give up A person I will not forgive A wrong relationship in my life I will not give up A restitution I will not make Something God has already told me to do that I will not obey Check these points and be honest. Then try listening again.

10. MISTAKES
“Supposing I make a mistake and do something in the name of God that isn’t right?” Of course we make mistakes. We are humans with many faults. However, God will always honor our sincerity. He will work around and through every honest mistake we make. He will help us make it right. But, remember this! Sometimes when we do obey God, someone else may not like it or agree with it. So when there is opposition, it doesn’t always mean you have made a mistake. It can mean that the other person doesn’t want to know or to do what is right.

“Supposing I fail to do something that I have been told and the opportunity to do it passes?” There is only one thing to do. Put it right with God. Tell Him you’re sorry. Ask Him to forgive you, then accept His forgiveness and begin again. God is our Father – He is not an impersonal computer. He understands us far better than we do.

11. RESULTS?
We never know what swimming is like until we get down into the water and try. We will never know what this is like until we sincerely try it.

Every person who has tried this honestly finds that a wisdom, not their own, comes into their minds and that a Power greater than human power begins to operate in their lives. It is an endless adventure.

There is a way of life, for everyone, everywhere. Anyone can be in touch with the living God, anywhere, anytime, if we fulfill His conditions.

When man listens, God speaks.
When man obeys, God acts.
This is the law of prayer.

God’s plan for this world goes forward through the lives of ordinary people who are willing to be governed by Him.