Day 9 -- Look For Flow

We looked at three principles that work together as we listen for God's voice: a quiet heart, a focus on Jesus, and flow. What is flow, and how does it work?

Flow is the work of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus said in John 7:38, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." The next verse explains that these rivers are the Holy Spirit. Notice that Jesus said He would flow out of our hearts.

Flow comes in words, phrases, or sentences. It often happens in our own speech, in someone else's, or within our own thoughts. We can mistake it for our own thoughts, or our own words or someone else's. In John 16:13-14, Jesus explained the flow of the Holy Spirit: "He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." The Holy Spirit often flows in speech.

Because the rivers of living water flow out of the heart, many people wish to hear God's audible voice. "Then I would know it's Him, and not me," they sigh. But as the Bible shows, God rarely speaks audibly. The people who hear from God frequently usually do so by hearing the "still small voice" mentioned in the story of Elijah.

The story of Patrick's call to ministry in Ireland shows how flow works. Patrick had already been enslaved there, then had escaped and gone home to Britain. Later, as a young man, Patrick heard the Lord sending him back. "But Lord, I can't preach," Patrick protested. God was not to be put off. "He that died for thee now lives in thee, and will speak through thee." Patrick surrendered to the call, and went on to transform Ireland with his preaching and with the signs that followed.

It can be as simple for us as it was for Patrick: the same Christ who died for us now lives in us, and will speak through us. This is one aspect of flow, when we don't speak just our own thoughts, but Christ in us speaks through us.

The same Christ awakens our ears to hear the voice of God, to recognize the heaven-sent flow of words. Then we, like the woman who wanted to touch the hem of Christ's garment, can press through the crowd of our own thoughts to find the flow of words that come from God.
What does flow look like? It's a string of words that don't quite follow the progression of your own thoughts. It comes from a personality other than your own. Soon we'll look at a few ways you can test what you're hearing, to discern what came from God and what didn't.

Cherish the life of Christ within you. If you've asked Him to live in your heart, you can expect Him to awaken your ear to hear God's voice. You can also expect Him to speak through you, and to speak to you through other believers.

But it doesn't always have to relate to the goal of hearing from God. Keep it relational. Cherish Him, wherever you are and whatever you're doing. As He comes in to live within you, do all you can to make Him feel at home. When flow starts, it may be a matter of words -- or it can also be events or divine appointments.