What Does This Mean? Ask The Lord First!

Response (WHAT TO DO with what you’ve heard)

Ask! “Lord, what should I do with this?”

We will get into some specific responses to specific situations later, but for now develop the habit of going TO THE LORD with your questions or for clarification in how to respond. Though the Lord may very well use others to speak to you, He is not obligated to, and reserves the right to speak to you in person. FIRST!

Think of your closest personal relationship, or even your relationship with a co-worker or person in authority over you. What if your boss came to you and asked that a task be accomplished in a certain way by a certain time? Would you say, “Well, let me check with my pastor.” Or even “Let me pray about that?” No, you recognize the boundaries of the relationship and respond accordingly.

Very often we don’t want to learn how to hear from the Lord because of the responsibility that comes with that ability. We’re afraid of what He might say or ask us to do. This fear is likely part of what the Lord wants to expose and free us from! Though the increasing opportunities on the internet and elsewhere to share with others and get input can be great, to a large extent it has encouraged believers to turn to anyone and everyone else—experts, pastors, religious leaders, prophetic ministers—before we turn to the Lord. But the Lord wants to speak for Himself, and wants us to turn to Him first.

He knows where you are—The more clearly you hear His voice, the more clearly He will direct you, and the more clearly He will provide the encouragement, motivation and results He knows you need in order to live an excellent life now. In order to do this we need to be quick and able to respond.