Title: Hear God's Voice / Amos 8:11
Content Listen to God’s voice like this / Amos 8:11 Rev. Kwak Seon-hee
"Behold, the days are coming, saith the Sovereign LORD, that I will send a famine upon the land, not hunger for food, nor thirst for water.
The famine of hearing the word of the LORD."
As God's people, I need to hear God's voice and be guided. We have to close our ears to the sound of temptations in the world and follow the path God has given us. To help you live this life well is QT (quiet time: time of devotion or Bible meditation). QT is not only for young people or those who have learned a lot, but it is the basis of all believers. At least if I admit that I am the sheep of God. Then how should I listen to God's voice?
Let's love as much as Mobile Phone
Cell phones that ring anytime and anywhere have become a necessity of life, not a luxury. Set it on vibrate to avoid missing incoming calls even during worship services and meetings. Even while driving a car, I risk my life to answer the phone. You will have to listen to the Word with the same heart as living with a cell phone. I have seen people who died in a car accident while receiving a cell phone, but I have never heard of a person who died while listening to God's Word.
I need to turn it off for a while.
Han Seok-gyu, a Korean TV talent, said this while walking in the mountains with a monk. "In such a case, you need to turn it off for a while" Yes! In order to hear the voice of God, it is necessary to turn off the TV, Radio, Video, Computer, Mobile Phone, etc. To fully hear the voice of God. In order to meditate, you need to create an environment.
1) Make sure you have uninterrupted time. You cannot say that you love God without taking time to meet Him. You can get married only if you take time to meet the person you love.
2) Choose a quiet place where you can meet God one-on-one. Do not hold important gatherings, such as meeting valuable customers or serving food, at Sundae Gukjip or snack shops. Since we need to share serious and important stories, we need to provide a place where we can focus only on reading the Bible, such as meeting in a quiet place that is not bustling.
3) Eliminate obstructions. TV, Radio, Computer, and newspaper are the biggest obstacles. For some, it can even interfere with sleep. If you surf the Internet or watch TV until late at night, the Internet or TV becomes a hindrance. In addition, worries and worries floating around in the mind, and today's busy schedule also interfere. So these things should be put down at once.
4) Prepare for a meditation fellowship that facilitates the meeting. Some people randomly read and meditate on one chapter of the Bible every day. However, it is also too long and there is a risk of being picky. Meditating fellowship is essential because it helps to systematically meditate on the Bible and meditate in an appropriate amount. Which fellowship will you choose? Textbooks that allow you to read the entire Bible, texts that help you meditate on the text directly, and textbooks that do not contain other illustrations or fuss help you to meditate and grow your faith.
You have to dial a number to make a phone call.
Excitement! Finally, we are ready to meet God. Then open the Bible. We see with our eyes and read with our mouths, but we must hear with our spiritual ears. Instead of relying on meditation materials, you should first read the text carefully.
1) Watch it once, watch it twice, and watch it again and again. When reading the Bible, read it slowly. You should read it at least 3 times. I read it once and didn't understand it. So, you have to understand the content while reading the second, and listen to the words given to you during the third reading.
2) Let's look at the forest. The climber checks whether the mountain to be climbed is made of rocks, is forested, or has valleys. This makes for a pleasant hike. When meditating, grasp the entire text well and summarize it in one or two sentences. It is a great help in deep meditation and does not deviate from the text.
3) Look at the tree. Let's look at it in paragraphs or verse by verse. Let's not lose sight of God's still small voice. Sometimes a single word can give you a great realization and challenge.
First, we need to find out who God is. This is because I need to know the disposition and work of God that I believe in and follow. And I need to find the lessons it gives me. In other words, we need to find a command to obey, an example to imitate, and a sin to avoid.
4) Add salt from the stove to make it salty. No matter how challenging or graceful it may be to the heart, it is of no use if it is not applied to me. You should try to apply it.
5) Pray for application. You can pray a prayer of repentance, a prayer of thanks, and a prayer of commitment.
6) The more the Word is shared, the more grace abounds. The true value of Bible meditation is revealed when sharing what is applied at home, work, school, and family gatherings.