Listening to God

Mar 05, 2013 Read | 2 Samuel 7:8-22 Of all the heroes in Scripture, few are spoken of as respectfully as King David. What made him so special? David himself wondered the same thing(2 Sam. 7:18) The best answer is simply that he was a man who listened to God. Righteousness is impossible unless we listen to the Father. When we do, we gain divine guidance, direction, discipline, and encouragement. This was certainly true of the shepherd-king (Ps. 63:1-8). In the Psalms, we get a beautiful picture of David’s prayer life. Note four things he did when meditating on God: 1. He reviewed the past. Though David had made some serious mistakes, those hard times produced a necessary humility. Looking back helped him remember God’s faithfulness. 2. He reflected upon the Lord’s character. When we focus on His attributes, we grow in our understanding of who He is. This results in a more personal, interactive relationship. 3. David recalled God’s promises. He knew the Lord had always directed his steps—and with great success. 4. He made requests of his heavenly Father. God never intended for us to go through life alone. He is always ready to act on our behalf. Stop for a minute and think about how you typically interact with God. If prayer time is dominated by your own talking, some adjustments may be in order. Just as the Lord spoke to David, God also has many things to say to you, if you’ll simply let Him speak. God bless you! Amen