Don’t Miss What God Is Showing You

“Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” LUKE 19:41-42

 

PONDER THIS

In Luke 19, Jesus wept on the Mount of Olives. Do you know why Jesus wept? Luke 19:41-42 says, “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.’” No wonder Jesus wept. The prophet Daniel gave the precise day. Jesus said, “If you'd only known the things that belong to you on this your day.” The Israelites had been given a very specific warning, but they refused to see it. We must be careful that we also don’t miss the warnings of God that we have received. God has been gracious to reveal Himself to us; we must be careful not to ignore Him.

What are some warnings God has given us in the Bible?

What will the consequences be if we don’t heed these warnings?

PRACTICE THIS

Ask God to show you ways you might have ignored His Word. Ask Him to give you a repentant and obedient heart to move forward in a way that honors Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

When God Speaks, Are You Listening?

“Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is desert.”

ACTS 8:26

 

PONDER THIS

When you’re sensitive to the direction of the Spirit, God will lead you to somebody who needs Jesus. Those of you who are students, tomorrow you’re going to find some student, if you’ll be sensitive. Perhaps God is preparing some student for you to witness to. Those of you who are business people, if you’re sensitive, God’s going to lead you to somebody. God is working on an individual. Perhaps there’s somebody who went to church on Sunday, seeking the wells of religion, but came away dry. Maybe that person knows the Bible, but doesn’t know how to be saved. You may say, “Well, God never brings anybody to me.” Oh? Could it be that you’re not listening?

When was a time God enabled you to share with another person because you were sensitive to His prompting?

When might have been a time you missed God’s prompting because you were focused on other things?

PRACTICE THIS

Take time in your normal routine today to stop and ask God where He is leading you, that He might use you to point others to Him.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Listening?

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

JAMES 1:19-20

 

PONDER THIS

Communication is so important with kids, but it is not always easy. We like to be heard, but we don’t like slowing down to listen, especially when it is inconvenient for us. Sometimes, our oldest son just wouldn’t talk. And then suddenly he’d open up and talk and talk, and Joyce and I would say, “This is a golden moment,” and we’d sit and listen. You have to be ready when they’re ready, and you have to make time. That is a part of loving sacrificially. You love them where they are.

Take time with them. Go out to a meal with them. Spend time doing what they are interested in. Make the effort to listen and understand their worlds. When they open up, be ready, don’t be in a rush, and be a good listener. Never be too busy to listen to your children. Think about how God interacts with us. Is He too busy for us? Did He delay His plan of redemption because He had more important things to do? Of course not! He has always been there for us; He is ready to receive us; and He is a listening ear when we call out to Him. If our God has done all of that for us, then we can follow His example in our interactions with our kids.

Did you feel heard as a child growing up? Why or why not?

Who are people you have a hard time listening to? Why? How could you sacrifice to change this?

PRACTICE THIS

Pray for those in the next generation. Pray for ears to listen to them and for patience to walk with them through the challenges of life.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Listening for God’s Voice?

PRAY OVER THIS

“I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.” Proverbs 8:17-19

 

PONDER THIS

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (KJV). We need to see, no matter if God appears to us in an angel as He did to Gideon long ago or whether God speaks to us in another form. And if you wish God would speak to you as he spoke to Gideon through the angel of the Lord, remember that you have something better than Gideon ever had: You have the Word of God. You have the Holy Spirit of God living in you to guide and direct you.

Don’t go whining and complaining about God not speaking. God wants to speak. Do you want to hear? Are you ready to listen to what God is saying? You will never have victory in your life, at home, in school, in business, in your neighborhood, in the Church, or in society until you get a vision of Almighty God. You need to see God big and strong and mighty. You need to desire His ways more than your own.

What comes to mind when you think of God speaking?

Are you expecting God to speak to you regularly through His Word?

PRACTICE THIS

Ask a trusted fellow believer to share how he or she listens to God through His Word.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You a Good Listener?

PRAY OVER THIS

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” James 1:19

 

PONDER THIS

I have an occupational hazard; I am a preacher and I like to talk. As a result, I’m not necessarily a good listener, but I am learning. We all need to learn to listen.

When you listen, you encourage others to talk. If another person has the idea that you’re not listening, that person is not going to want to talk. When you listen, you encourage people to talk. Well, what good does that do? It helps you understand. You cannot understand somebody you’re not listening to. And when you understand your mate, it follows as night follows day that understanding will bring you closer together. You’re going to achieve intimacy. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand that.

The reason many of us don’t listen is, number one, we’re defensive. Our ego is there. We don’t want to hear; we don’t want anybody to tell us anything. Number two, we assume we already know what others are going to say, and we finish their sentences for them before they ever get to the end. Number three, while they’re talking, we’re thinking about what we’re going to say and how we’re going to answer. Instead of listening, we’re preparing our own speeches in response. The Bible says we need to learn to listen.

When do you struggle to listen to others?

How have you been impacted when someone took the time to listen to you?

PRACTICE THIS

Ask someone how he or she is doing today and practice really listening.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers