23-077 GOD'S GRACE AND SOVEREIGNTY

Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough to hear from God? Maybe you’ve struggled with sin or doubt, or you feel like you haven’t achieved a certain level of spiritual maturity. But the truth is, hearing from God is not about our own ability to become holy or perfect. In fact, even imperfect people like Saul were able to hear God’s voice clearly.

In 1 Samuel 10:10-11, we see how Saul was enabled by the Spirit of God to prophesy, despite his many flaws and shortcomings as a king. It wasn’t because he had achieved an extreme level of holiness or had a perfectly pure heart. It was simply because God had chosen him and was working in his life.

We can learn from Saul’s story that hearing from God is not about our own merit, but about God’s grace and sovereignty. We don’t have to wait until we’re “good enough” to hear from Him. We can come to Him just as we are, with all our flaws and imperfections, and trust that He will speak to us.

However, this doesn’t mean we should be complacent about pursuing God and spending time in His presence. Those who seek Him and spend time with Him are more likely to hear His voice clearly and consistently. But we should never think that we have to earn God’s blessings or achieve a certain level of holiness in order to hear from Him.

So, what does it mean to seek God wherever we are, in our imperfections and flaws? It means to come to Him with humility and a heart that is open to receive and respond to His voice. It means to spend time in His presence through prayer, worship, and reading His Word, even when we don’t feel like we’re “good enough”. It means to trust in His grace and sovereignty, knowing that He will speak to us when we listen expectantly.

Here are three questions to reflect on:

1. Have you ever felt like you weren’t good enough to hear from God? How did you respond to those feelings?

2. What are some ways you can seek God in your imperfections and flaws, without waiting until you feel “good enough”?

3. How can you cultivate a heart that is open to receiving and responding to God’s voice, even when you don’t feel worthy?

And here’s a call to action:

Don’t wait for perfection to come before you seek God. Instead, come to Him just as you are, with all your flaws and imperfections. Spend time in His presence and listen expectantly for His voice. Trust in His grace and sovereignty, knowing that He will speak to you when you seek Him with a humble and open heart.

Let’s Pray…Father, thank You for basing Your Kingdom on grace. I earn nothing, yet Jesus qualifies me to receive everything. I need to hear You regardless of my condition, and You know that. Thank You for leading all of Your sheep, including me, by the sound of Your voice.