God Speaks!

Do you know when God is speaking to you? Can you hear His voice?  Do you know when it is His voice that is speaking?

Like any other communication, speaking with God is no different.  We know someone’s voice when we listen. After a while that voice is recognizable no matter where they call from or if they try to hide their voice because communication is constant. The more you hear the easier it is to recognize.

Reading a devotional today my eyes were opened, my heart was soften and my ears were astonished at what God was telling me. We, as leaders, know what is expected of us and know what we expect of ourselves but many times we fall into a zombie like spiritual life and loose our focus. When this happens our communication with God becomes hindered by things, objects, or people that take its place. I was reading this article by Frank Damazio, Pastor of City Bible Church and I am going to share with you what he says, this hit me hard:

To move your church and your life to the next level, it is imperative to create a culture and habit of prayer intercession for the city, starting with you. You wouldn’t hike a desert without water. Make sure you aren’t leading without prayer.

When the soul of every individual is enlarged through prayer and passion of the heart is inflamed to pray, the group called “church” is mobilized to break through barriers and impact a city. Hosea 10:12 lays out a great call to believers:

“Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you.” Are you ready to pray with some power? Here are seven power points of prayer from Hosea 10:12.

1. The Preparation of Prayer – “Break up”
Prayer begins with a heart and mind that have been softened and planted with the word of God. “Breaking up” the soil of our hearts refers to a personal commitment to confession and repentance.

2. The Hindrances of Prayer – “Fallow Ground”
The condition of our hearts determines our growth, our fruitfulness, and our destinies in God. Even as there are different conditions of physical soil, so there are different heart conditions that must be discerned in order to bring forth great fruitfulness in the spiritual realm.

3. The Urgency of Prayer – “For it is time”
We live in the glorious “now” of God. The whole of time is God’s arena to work on behalf of and through His faithful ones. He desires that His people be mighty in prayer, experienced in getting answers to prayer, and undisturbed by the most complex or long-standing needs.

4. The Focus of Prayer – “To seek the Lord”
It is time to seek the Lord. Seeking prayer is an earnest, continual perseverance birthed from a deep hunger and drive. Seeking prayer is prayer that is Holy Spirit initiated and, through intercession, finds God’s will and God’s answers.

5. The Persistence of Prayer – “Till”
Many prayers are granted by God, but given up by the ones praying because they stopped praying before the answer came. Without the dynamic of persistence, much prayer remains unanswered.

6. The Dynamic Presence of Christ in Prayer – “He comes”
Power in prayer comes from the empowering of the Holy Spirit within us. As we use that power in prayer, He continues to empower us for prayer and breathe His Spirit in us.

7. The Abundant Answers to Prayer – “Rains righteousness on you”
The rain of God is symbolic of God’s favor, blessings, strength, and prosperity. It is prayer that both releases the rain of God and allows us to receive the rain of God.

This really hit the spot for me.  What do you think? Can a leader truly lead God’s people without prayer? Without talking and listening constantly with God, will you be able to know when He speaks?