Getting in tune with God

By Robert Hurtgen

My alarm clock has a radio that I occasionally listen to. I do not listen to the alarm clock radio because either of where I live or where the radio is placed in my home I have difficulty tuning in the frequency that I want to listen to. When I do use the radio, I move the dial slowly to pick up the station. If I am out of sync, even a little, all I receive is static.

The Bible tells us that to listen to God, we must tune ourselves to him. That we must align ourselves with him to hear from him. There are three ways to get in tune with God to listen to him.

First, God speaks through his word. While the Bible does not tell us every detail of every facet of modern life -- rocket science or the use of deodorant for example -- the Bible does speak to every significant issue of life. Meaning, purpose, and values. Jesus says that those who listen to his words are like a wise man who builds his house on a rock (Matthew 7:24-27). The Bible remains the first avenue by which God speaks.

Second, God speaks through the counsel of others. Proverbs 11:14 says, "Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory" (NASB). We need people in our lives who will give us good counsel. Especially when they are a good enough friend to tell us what we do not want to hear. "Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy" (Proverbs 27:6, NLT). God uses others to speak to us.

Third, God speaks through the desires of your heart. The prayer of Psalm 20:4 reads, "May he [the Lord] grant you your heart's desire and fulfill all your plans!" God may be speaking to you by through the burning desires in your heart (see Nehemiah 2:12). A desire that does not contradict what the Lord has already revealed may be the venue by which he is leading you.

Listen to God through the Bible, the counsel of others, and the vision that has been burned in your heart. A heart desire that aligns with what he has already revealed in the Bible will align you with the Lord and tune in to what he wants you to heart.