Challenges to Knowing and Hearing from God Part 6

MIND (what we think/believe)

Over time, the strength or weakness of our mind will interfere less and less with the expression of our spiritual nature. A thinking person is no more able to move in the gifts than a less intellectual believer. In fact, it is often the child-like believer who is willing to let the Lord move without having to understand all that He is doing. But the Lord deals with each of us individually, so though it is helpful to research what He is doing in others’ lives, the final test is: Does it work for YOU? God gives us understanding and wisdom despite our temperament, not because of it.

WILL (what we choose to do)

Some of us have no trouble acting swiftly on the direction we hear from God. We’ve all heard of people who’ve acted on what they believed was the word of the Lord for them, and got married, moved, quit a job, sold their house, etc., only for disappointing consequences to follow. Yet God often uses those who are easiest to satisfy, those who are content, to accomplish great things. Moses’ temperament made Him quite content to spend his days tending the sheep, yet he knew the Lord’s voice when he heard it, tested it, then acted on it. God calls us to act despite our temperament, not because of it.

EMOTIONS (what we feel)

The level of emotions, and their expression to others, depends on temperament. As with the mind and will, social expectations and personal history also play a role. We all need to learn to relate to God and to others based on God’s ways, not how we feel about Him or the person being ministered to, or doing the ministering. Many reject God’s Truth and Life because it did not come they way they felt it should. God motivates us with compassion and desire despite our temperament, not because of it.