The God Life “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. Revelation 3:20 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep. …I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:11, 14-16, 27 We must to hear God's voice You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. Jeremiah 29:13 God speaks through the All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 Listening to God: Step 1: Prayer of Invitation “Lord, I am here. Thank you for being here with me. You are kind and unending in your endless love for me. Because you invite med to know you and listen to you, I come now to hear from you. I invite your Spirit to speak to me. Speak Lord, I am listening and eager to hear from you. Amen.” Step 2: Read Psalm 23 To be present to the Bible passage you are reading, and God’s voice, read Psalm 23, four to five times. Psalm 23 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Step 3: Meditation As the psalmist stated, “I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.” (Psalm 119:15). Go back to Psalm 23. From your multiple reading of scripture, did a certain word, words, or phrase stick out to you? Perhaps even an image, or memory, or all the above. Record your findings below. Step 4: Conversation with God In this stage we are now conversing or talking with God regarding a word, phrase, image, or concept that we recorded in step 3. In conversation with God, we ask probing questions like, “Lord, why is this word or phrase or image sticking out to me? What is going on in my life that attracts me to this phrase or word? What is it saying about my state of being? Am I fully submitting to Your will for me? Step 5: Action God’s word states, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). In quietness listen to God. Open yourself to God. Think about what you have heard. What has God said? What do you need to change about your thinking? How will you obey? If I need help, and accountability to follow through, who will I reach out to? When?