What is God Saying to You?

This week, I have been pondering this question of what God is saying to me. I will write about these things today.

What is God Saying to You?

"God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?"

(Numbers 23:19)

A couple of years ago, I was in a meeting with a group of pastors in the city of Austin, TX. The question was posed to us as pastors: "What is God saying to you at this time in your life?" I only remember what one pastor, Tim Hawks, shared with this group. Tim served as the pastor of Hill Country Bible Church for 34 years. I have great respect for his walk with God and his continued leadership in our city. Tim said that he felt God telling him that China would invade Taiwan and that would trigger the war that would end the world as we know it. Wow!

All followers of Jesus know that our Lord is coming back and the events surrounding His return will be catastrophic and unprecedented. I believe the Lord could return any moment. Let us be busy serving Him and introducing as many people to Him as we can!

This week, I have been pondering this question of what God is saying to me. I will write about these things today. Now, they are not on the same scale as Pastor Hawks, but this is what I sense the Lord telling me:

Listen to God. In the popular Broadway show, "Hamilton," Aaron Burr tells Hamilton he should, "Talk less, smile more." I desire to talk less, smile more, listen to others, and moreover, listen to God. He still speaks primarily though His Word, and He also speaks in that still, quiet voice when we slow down long enough to simply wait and watch for Him.
Spend most of your time with those who will attend your funeral. A pastor friend told me this many years ago. Invest most of your time with your loved ones and friends, those who will care enough to attend your funeral.
Celebrate people before their funeral. It is sad that people wait until the person cannot hear them to say all kinds of great things about them!
God gives hard assignments to those He trusts. God has given our church a huge task that includes relocating our church, changing the name, planting more church campuses, and growing people in the Lord to the point where they flourish and lead well.
Lead myself and then lead others well. For me, the area I am working on and still need to improve is reacting in a way that honors God when people do bad things or when people do things that I would not do. C.S. Lewis said that in those moments when you cannot prepare or see coming, how you react at those times is who you really are. Good leaders are always learning; great leaders are always growing. In John Maxwell's excellent book, The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, he said every leader should focus on character, competency, and commitment. (See p. 185.)
Be more like Jesus: full of grace and truth (John 1:14).
Show kindness and compassion to everyone.

What is it that you sense God is telling you? You can hear from Him! Open your Bible, read it, and simply be still in His presence and listen. He will tell you many wonderful things!