Category Archives: Hearing

Answers, Bible, Hearing, Prayer, Requests, Scripture

PRAYER REQUESTS

ROMANS 1:10

“always in my prayers requesting if perhaps now, at last by the will of God, I will succeed in coming to you.”

I often ask waitresses or waiters at restaurants if I can pray for a request they may have. I did that this week at a Waffle House here in the Knoxville area. The waitress really shocked me when she said, “Yea, pray my husband can find work so we can stop living in the tent.” I agreed to pray and did as we blessed our meal. (I also left her a generous tip.) Prayer requests should be made knowing the Lord hears and will answer.

Paul wrote this letter to the Romans from Corinth hoping to visit them after he delivered a gift to the Jerusalem church and on his way to Spain. Paul uses a Greek word for “requesting” that goes beyond just asking. HELPS Word studies says, déomai (from the root deō, ‘having deep personal need, to be in want,’ see also déēsis, ‘felt-need’) – properly, to feel pressing need because of lack – hence, to make urgent appeal; to have deep personal need causing one to beseech (make earnest, specific request).” Spiros Zodhiates, a Greek scholar I knew personally, emphasizes the middle voice of this word. It’s a personal felt-need that drives Paul to make this request of God.

APPLICATION

In Luke 5:12 we see this same word used. “While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’” Of course, we know what happened. Jesus was willing and healed him. Look at the next verse there. “And He reached out with His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ And immediately the leprosy left him.” Why would Jesus not do the same for us when we beg Him like this?

When Paul appeared before Agrippa, he was still begging, not for his life, but for Agrippa to hear him clearly. “…I beg you to listen to me patiently.” Have you begged someone to listen to you? I meet with men all the time. I beg them sometime to listen to His Word, not the world. I beg them to get quiet and listen for God’s voice. I beg them to put aside any impurity in their lives and walk with Jesus.

I am begging you today. I implore you today. Listen to the words of Christ. Get into His Word and see for yourself what He will do for you, if you just obey. I am begging God for you. And like Paul, I am asking the God of heaven to allow me to see some of your faces soon.

Father, I know You hear every request we make. Help me show this personal heart-felt need to come to You daily on behalf of others.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Answers, Bible, Hearing, Intercession, Prayer, Scripture

ALWAYS PRAYING

COLOSSIANS 1:3

“We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,”

How many times have you told someone, “I will pray for you,” or “I’ll remember you in my prayers”? Then you go home and totally forget all about it. I have learned when I am asked to pray for someone to do it right then, either out loud with the person or in my heart. I know how forgetful I am. I will forget who it was or what it was I was praying for. It doesn’t take much time. And if you do it right then, that person knows you take prayer seriously.

Paul tells his fellow believers in Colossae that he is “praying always” for them. I bet that was not the first time Paul had told them that. They knew Paul was a man of prayer. They knew Paul had modeled prayer for others to them. They could trust this statement and knew he was praying for them, even while he was in prison (his first imprisonment).

APPLICATION

How do you model this for others? Well, I told you what I do, but you may choose another way. You may want to make a note in your phone or in a journal. I do both of these, as well. I meet with different men’s groups and keep a list of prayer requests. Then when I am having my daily prayer time, I can pull these out and pray for them by name.

Let me encourage you to do that – pray for them by name. Generic prayers are good. All prayers are good, but when you call that person’s name and intercede for them, you are being specific in your prayers. We are told in Philippians to present our prayers and petitions before the Lord (Phil. 4:6-7). That Greek for “petitions” is used to describe prayers that are specific and fervent, often in the context of seeking divine intervention or assistance.

Don’t be shy about your prayers. God can handle all you give Him. In fact, He is waiting for them. He wants to hear them. He wants to answer them. By praying for others, you are building your own faith in prayer. Intercede for others as often as you can and watch the God of the universe work in and through you.

Father, I know You hear my prayers for others. Answer according to Your perfect will.

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Bible, God's Will, Hearing, Learning, Listening, Scripture

HEARING AND LEARNING

EPHESIANS 4:21

“if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus,” 

When I was in high school, I was a bit of a clown. I loved (still do) to make people laugh. The bad part of that was I did it during class, thus disrupting the classroom and irritating the teacher. I may have heard what the teacher said with my ears, but I sure didn’t learn anything. In order to learn anything, you must listen and be willing to be taught.

As a continuation of verse 20, Paul talks about what the Ephesians had been taught. The Greek word for “heard” is akouó. Interestingly, this word is most often used to hearing God’s voice in order to build faith. Don’t you just love that? And “taught” is the word didasko, which most often refers to the Scriptures. Paul is telling the Ephesians to listen to God and look at the Scriptures.

APPLICATION

So, the question has to be asked. What are you listening to and what are you being taught? Well Carl, I go to church every Sunday and listen to the preacher. That is NOT what I am talking about. Did you know that we only retain about 5% of the information we hear from a lecture or a sermon. I am talking about hearing God speak to your heart. I am talking about digging in and learning the Scriptures yourself.

In the ministry I am apart of (Every Man A Warrior), we teach men these two skills. I recently did a deep dive into hearing God’s voice. I read several books which pointed out in Scripture the ways in which God speaks to us. He speaks through prayer, through people, through circumstances and yes, through Scripture. But we have to be listening. We have to be tuned in.

EMAW also teaches men how to study God’s Word using the ABC method. A = Ask questions and record your thoughts and meditations. B = Find the best verse or word or phrase. Then record your best thoughts. C = Communicate your thoughts and insights back to God in prayer. Listening to the Word is good, but it is not enough.

Hearing and being taught! That is how we learn. Are you listening today? Are you willing to be taught today? God is our Master Teacher. He is speaking today. He wants you to hear and obey. Let’s do this together. Amen?

O Lord, I want to hear You today and obey whatever You tell me.

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Belief, Bible, Calling, Direction, God's Will, Hearing, Listening, Messages, Persuasion, Scripture

WHO’S CALLING?

GALATIANS 5:8

“This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.”

Have you ever been tricked by someone on a phone call? I used to occasionally call the office secretary when I was on a road trip and disguise my voice. I would pretend to be a donor who wanted to donate some wild and outlandish thing (which actually happened more times than you can imagine) just to make her squirm a little and figure out how to answer this person. Of course, towards the end of the call she would recognize it was me and threaten me bodily harm when I returned. Lol

Paul is warning the Galatians and us in today’s verse to be careful who you answer to, to make sure you know who is actually calling you. The Greek word for “persuasion” is only used here in Galatians 5:8. It refers to a self-produced persuasion. In other words, they decided themselves to believe this caller. It was not God who was calling them to keep the Mosaic law and deny their freedom in Christ.

APPLICATION

Matthew Poole’s Commentary says this about “Him who calls you,” “is not from God, who hath called you out of darkness into marvellous light, unto fellowship with himself, into a state of grace and favour with him, and to the hopes of eternal life; and who yet calleth you by his gospel: it must therefore be from the devil and his instruments, who go about to seduce and pervert you.”

Think about Poole’s words for a second. It is God who has called you out of darkness into marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9), into fellowship with Himself (1 John 1:3), into grace and favor (1 Peter 2:20, and to the hopes of eternal life (1 Peter 5:10). It seems Poole liked 1 Peter, didn’t he? It is God who calls us to these things. He isn’t adding on to His requirements.

The next time you hear a voice directing you to do something, make sure it is the voice of God and not His arch enemy attempting to disguise his voice and imitate God. Remember, the devil will never ask you to do anything that will glorify the Father or the Son. It will only be about you, what will make you happy. Listen closely. Learn to recognize His voice.

Father, it is sweet to hear Your voice and recognize that You love me beyond words or deeds.

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Abiding, Bible, Blessing, Commands, Hearing, Listening, Scripture, Uncategorized

GOD’S STILL TALKING

ZECHARIAH 8:18

“Then the word of the LORD of armies came to me, saying,”

Every day when I am in my Quiet Time, I pray to hear the voice of the Lord. Now, don’t think I am strange. I don’t mean audibly, but that would be very cool. I am talking about Him speaking through His Holy Spirit into my heart and mind. Some days, He is practically yelling at me. Other days – not so much. He’s quiet. That’s when I listen the hardest.

Today’s verse is the eighth time in chapter eight that Zedekiah received a word from the Lord. God is about to speak on the joyous festivals that are coming to Israel (more on that tomorrow). This whole chapter has been about God sharing His blessings on this remnant of Israel. After all the suffering, after all the judgment, they are now back in the good graces of their God and are worthy of His blessings.

APPLICATION

Did you hear the Lord speaking to you this morning? Oh, you didn’t listen, did you? The first rule to hearing is listening. How do you listen? Okay, that’s enough with the questions. I am not trying to make you feel guilty for not hearing the Lord or not listening. I simply want to urge you to take the time to listen and hear.

Perhaps you don’t want to hear His voice. Maybe there is some secret sin you are withholding. In John 8:9 we see the people’s response to Jesus when He was dealing with the woman who had been caught in adultery. “And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.”

I have often wondered what Jesus wrote in the sand that day. Maybe He listed some of their secret sins, so they all slipped away. Don’t do that! Confess those sins. Be cleansed through His forgiveness. We all need a daily washing, don’t we? Hear His voice calling you to repentance.

I confess to You, Lord, each day the sins I have committed. Wash me clean once again.

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Access, Answers, Asking, Bible, Confession, Forgiveness, God's Will, Hearing, Prayer, Scripture

NO RESPONSE

ZECHARIAH 7:13

“‘And just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen,’ says the LORD of armies;”

Don’t you just hate it when you text someone, and they don’t text you back? In days past, you would write a letter and wait for a response. Later on, you would call and leave a message on an answering machine, expecting a return call. Our frustration with not receiving a response hasn’t changed, has it? We still want to hear back, and the sooner the better.

So, when the Lord said these words to Zechariah to deliver to the people, they must have stung. The Lord of armies (also known as the Lord of Hosts) says “they called and I would not listen.” Why? Because their unrepentant sin had cut off communication. It was as if the phone line to heaven had been cut. They called out, but no one answered. I bet the silence was deafening.

APPLICATION

Do you want God to hear your prayers? Then stay “prayed up.” Confess your sins quickly and completely. Name them. Ask Him to reveal to you those secret sins you keep tucked away. Psalm 90:7-8 tells us. “7 For we have been consumed by Your anger,

and we have been terrified by Your wrath. 8 You have placed our guilty deeds before You, our hidden sins in the light of Your presence.”

Did you catch that last phrase? It said, “our hidden sins.” Another translation says, “our secret sins.” Come on, you know you have them. What have you not confessed to the Lord? What is that secret sin you are holding on to? I know you don’t want to cut off communication with heaven. No one wants that.

Our approach to the altar makes all the difference. If we come as the Israelites did with pride and arrogance, God will not hear. But if we come in humility and brokenness, He promises to hear and answer. God wants to work in our lives. He really wants to. Clear the slate. Confess those sins. Allow Him to work in the ways He wants. You won’t be sorry.

Thank You, Lord, for hearing my confessions. I want to keep our lines of communication wide open.

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Asking, Attention, Bible, Blessing, Calling, God's Will, Hearing, Holy Spirit, Inspirational, Listening, Scripture

WHO IS CALLING MY NAME?

ZECHARIAH 6:8

“Then He called out to me and spoke to me, saying, ‘See, those who are going to the land of the north have appeased My wrath in the land of the north.’”

I was walking through an airport recently and could have sworn I heard someone call my name. It was so clear. I quickly turned my head and scanned the terminal I was walking through. I thought perhaps there was a fellow traveler who knew me. I never did see that person. Maybe it was God calling me.

Zechariah once again hears the angel call his name. Zechariah, listen up. You don’t want to miss this. He is told very clearly that “those who are going to the land of the north” are going to settle things. God had had enough of Babylon’s irreverence. They had taken the sacred vessels from the temple and were using them in their idol worship. Yes, they had been God’s weapon to bring judgment on Israel, but they had gone too far.

APPLICATION

Have you heard the voice of God lately? It takes a trained ear. Most people don’t hear God because they are not listening. Isaiah 6:8 is a pretty famous verse about hearing God. “Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” Isaiah heard because he was listening.

I love the message we get from Psalm 95:7b-9. “7b Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah, as on the day of Massah in the wilderness, 9 “When your fathers put Me to the test, they tested Me, though they had seen My work.” You see, the danger of hearing God’s voice is ignoring it because His commands or directions do not line up with what you want.

Are you listening? Better yet, are you obeying? When He calls your name, are you saying as Isaiah did, “Here I am, send me”? Get alone in a quiet place and listen. Ask God to speak to you. Ask Him to show you your sins and confess them to Him. Allow Him to speak deep in your hearts. Then, and this is the most important part, do what He says.

Speak to my heart, Lord Jesus. There’s room in my heart for You,

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Abiding, Bible, Hearing, Listening, Scripture, Speech, Testimony

ALSO

ZECHARIAH 4:8

“Also the word of the LORD came to me, saying,”

In this world of multi-media, we can get lost in messages and texts. I send a lot of emails. Usually, they are to groups of people I have saved in a distribution list. But occasionally I will need to send an email to just one person. I will type it, check it and hit send only to realize I needed to add something to the message. Now, I have to send another message.

The angel has been delivering God’s message to Zechariah, but now in today’s verse we see the Lord talking directly to Zechariah. I love the word “also.” In the Hebrew it is much stronger than that. It is an emphatic word. It is a strong word. It’s kind of like “And furthermore.” God is driving the point home. He has been watching and listening to the angel’s conversation with Zechariah and adds to it.

APPLICATION

The point for us? God is not done talking to us. He has more to say – if we will just listen. In Luke 9:44, Jesus called the disciples close and said, “‘Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.’” Have you heard the Lord tell you to “listen carefully”? He just may have a message for you.

The last couple of days I have been at a Pastors’ Conference. We have had some incredible pre-session prayer times. Each day as I walked the room and prayed over the table and chairs, God has given me words for that day. How did I hear those words? I was listening. He did not speak audibly to me. He spoke through His Spirit, but the words were as clear as a bell.

Today God may tap you on the shoulder and say, “Listen up. I have a message for you.” Get still somewhere and just listen. Try it for one minute. Then try it for two minutes. If you keep practicing this, you will want to add minutes so you can hear more from Him. God had more to say to Zechariah. He has more to say to us. Listen!

Here I am, Lord. I am listening. Speak to me.

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Admonished, Advice, Angels, Bible, Commands, Eternity, Following, God's Will, Hearing, Listening, Obedience, Scripture

ADMONISHED

ZECHARIAH 3:6

“And the angel of the LORD admonished Joshua, saying,”

This time of the year here in the U.S. there are a lot of graduation ceremonies. At most high school and college graduations there will be a speaker, an invited guest. This person may be an alum, a celebrity, a politician or an educator. The purpose of this person’s speech is to admonish, to exhort, to challenge and to remind the students of their responsibilities that lie ahead. I have a granddaughter graduating this year from high school. I am sure she will hear such a speech.

You may question why I would do a devotional on such an insignificant verse. Really? Is any verse insignificant if it is inspired by God? I don’t think so. Look at the verse. The “angel of the Lord” is considered by many to be Jesus Christ who appears throughout the Old Testament. He is reminding Joshua of what is about to come. In the next four verses we will see what He says. This admonishment wasn’t cruel or harsh. It was just a firm reminder.

APPLICATION

I usually see “admonishments” in a negative way. Maybe that’s because I have actually received a lot of those. But an admonishment is not meant to be negative if it comes from the Lord. Remember, His desire is to always draw you to Him. He is not trying to scare you away. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…”

I don’t want to react to God’s voice like a feral cat that runs away if you try to approach. I want to be like the family dog that runs to the door to greet you when they hear your car pull into the driveway. They can’t wait to see you. That’s exactly how I want to react when God admonishes me. He may just want to remind me of my purpose or to tell me He loves me.

When God speaks to you, how do you react? Well, Carl, I haven’t heard God speak to me? Oh, you are missing out. Get alone with Him and ask Him to talk to you. You’ve got to listen, though. You’ve got to get quiet and wait. You have to tune your ear to His voice. Then when He does speak you can recognize it. And then hang on. His words of admonishment will be welcomed then.

Speak to my heart, Lord Jesus. Speak that my soul may hear.

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Advocate, Bible, Brokenness, Caregiver, Hearing, Kingdom, Restoration, Scripture

CRAFTSMANSHIP

ZECHARIAH 1:20

“Then the LORD showed me four craftsmen.” 

My dad was a craftsman. He was self-taught, having worked with wood all his life. As a boy and young man, he had to work on the farm where they had to rebuild, repair and create new items for their work. I am sure this helped him learn the skills he showed me as I was growing up. He continued to tinker with this craft until he was no longer able to do so. He knew how to fix stuff.

The Lord is gracious, isn’t He? You see, He not only showed Zechariah the four horns that had destroyed the nation, but He also showed him four craftsmen who would rebuild. You can just imagine the joy Zechariah felt when he learned this. This message of hope for the nation was needed. Having returned from their latest exile, this message of hope was just what the people, needed to hear.

APPLICATION

And what comforting words those are to us today. God is still rebuilding lives. He is still repairing the broken and thrown away things. Are you broken? Do you feel as if you have been thrown on the garbage heap of life? Take heart, my friend. God can take you just like you are and restore you into a useable vessel, fit for His kingdom.

Just as my dad would take a broken and discarded rocker and rebuild it into a beautiful and useable heirloom, our God will restore you. Everything my dad repaired will one day burn, but you, beloved, will never be discarded by the hand of the One who rebuilt you.

I am reminded of the words of Peter in 1 Peter 2:9. “But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” You were restored for a purpose. Now, you are the craftsman, spreading the words of the Gospel, which always builds up and never tears down.

Create in me a new heart, O God. Make my hands Your hands. 

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