Listening To The Father

I know, I know. It has been a long time since I last blogged. I don't even know if anybody actually looks at this or not, but I will give it another shot. Last night, at Example Student Ministries, we discussed what it meant to listen to the Father. Listening to God's plan for our lives. Here's a few excerpts and the general idea...

Listening; it is very important. Many people think they are listening to someone speak, but many times they zone out, they get distracted by things around them, or sometimes they are just too lazy to focus on one thing. We are talking about listening to God speak to us in our everyday lives. We get so busy with the hurry-up lifestyle that we miss out on our one-on-one time with the One who created us. We miss out on the personal time with the One who loves us like no one else has loved us. Listening to God is very important because He has specific plans for you! Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, "declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (NIV) We have to listen to God to learn and understand the palns He has for our lives. King David, in Psalm 40:5 tells us how great the plans of God are: "Many, O LORD, my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare."

A rather funny illustration on the importance of listening:

The story is told of Franklin Roosevelt, who often endured long receiving lines at the While House. He compained that no one really paid any attention to what was said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who passed down the line and shood his hand, he murmured, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." The guests responded with phrases like, "Marvelous! Keep up the good work! We are proud of you! God bless you, sir!" It was not till the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Nonplussed, the ambassador leaned over and whispered, "I'm sure she had it coming."

If we don't listen to God, we cannot know what He is truly trying to tell us! He wants us to know His plans for our lives. God knows what is best for you in the situation you are in! Why don't we take time to listen to Him!

Another illustration. One of a Sunday School teacher who at the right time, listened to God and greatly affected many people:

In 1858, a Sunday school teacher, Mr. Kimball, led a Boston shoe clerk to give his life to Christ. The clerk was Dwight L. Moody, who became one of the world's greatest evangelists.
In 1879 Dwight L. Moody awakened evangelistic zeal in the heart of Frederick B. Meyer, a pastor of a small church in England. Sometimes later F.B. Meyer preached to students on an American college campus and led to Christ a student named J. Wilbur Chapman.
Chapman later was involved in YMCA work, and he employed a former baseball player, Billy Sunday, to do evangelistic work. Billy Sunday became the most popular evangelist of the 20th century, preaching to more than 100 million people and making more than a million converts. After he held a revival meeting in one town, the local people decided to hold another evangelistic campaign, and they invited Mordecai Hamm to preach.
During Hamm's revival, a young man named Billy Graham heard the gospel and gave his life to Jesus Christ. Only eternity will reveal the great numbers of people who have come to Christ all over the world through the ministry of Billy Graham.

Who could have imagined the ongoing impact of that one Sunday school teacher who helped a Boston shoe clerk accept Christ as his Lord and Savior!

Who knows what kind of impact you may have as you listen for God's plan on your life, and help people accept Christ!