by Renée Berry
I have had the honor of walking with many through our Discipleship Counseling process. Many doubt they hear the voice of God. I assure people they do hear the voice of God. How do I know that? Scripture tells us so in John 10:
John 10:4 (AMPC) “When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.”
John 10:14 (AMPC) “I am the Good Shepherd; and I know and recognize My own, and My own know and recognize Me”
Why is this so difficult to believe? Why do so many struggle with this? Shouldn’t hearing God be the norm for the Christian? Let me assure you that there are blocks put in our way to intentionally trip us up. Those blocks come from a misconception of God formed early on in life (a distorted view, if you will); circumstances in which we misjudged the very character of God, believing He is not Who He says He is; and a carry-over from the Adamic nature, a voice that is no longer valid in our lives. So, the bottom line, there is a belief problem associated with the ability to hear God. I quite often see people set free from the notion that they do not hear God when unbelief and judgment of God are brought to Truth (that which lines up with the Word of God).
The first issue to alleviate is the misconception of God. What does this mean? For the believer, we see we can relate to Adam and Eve in the garden. When they sinned they ran and hid from God. Why? For the first time, they were afraid of the God of Love; the God whose very persona is love. Before the biting of the fruit, they related to Him because He was a God to be believed and trusted. Did God change after that? Impossible! He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 (AMPC) “Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages).”
The change happened in their concept (perception) of God. They began to interpret God through another filter, an emotional filter of fear. God calls them with one of the most intimate questions in Scripture, “Where are You?” Was He calling them so He could punish them? No! But, because they had the knowledge of good and evil, they could now judge. Unfortunately, that was the beginning of misinterpreting the person of God, Who is Love. They hid because of that judgment believing that God was no longer Who He says He is. Certainly, now that sin had entered the world, He must be a punishing, angry, God – Someone to be feared! We are no different when we sin. We have a tendency to appeal to our fleshly coping mechanisms to try to “be like God” (Genesis 3:5). In other words, seek something to fill us besides Jesus Christ.
Seeking to understand your emotional fear of God and how you interpret Him through those emotional lies, hurtful circumstances, or when you choose to sin, is the first step in the healing of the misconception of the One, True, Loving God. Invite Him In! He is the Fountain of Life Who wants You to believe Who He says He is. A True concept of God will set you free to relate to Him in amazing ways. That is New Covenant living!
Would you like to know more about New Covenant Living – the abundant life that Jesus speaks about? At Abundant Grace International, we offer one-on-one Discipleship Counseling, couples counseling, conferences, and further training in understanding the Truths of the New Covenant of Grace.
We are a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, Christ-centered, Biblically-based Discipleship Counseling ministry. We are a part of an international network – Network220.org. For more information, please visit our website abundantgraceintl.org. We invite you to call today for a personal and private meeting with a counselor.
Call 864.270.5531 or click here to contact us.
Download our Free Ebook “How to walk in the will of God”
Renée Berry
Abundant Grace International
Discipleship Counselor * Life Coach * Teacher * Trainer
Author/Blogger: reneehberry.com
Invite Him In: Jesus in Seasons of Adversity
704-408-8609
Contact Renée
