Motives for Hearing God

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life, (John 12:24-25). Many people seek to hear God solely as a device for securing their own safety, comfort and righteousness. An extreme preoccupation with knowing God’s will may indicate, contrary to what is often thought, that I am overconcerned with myself, not that I have a Christlike interest in the well-being of others or in the glory of God. In The Secret of Guidance, F. B. Meyer writes, “So long as there is some thought of personal advantage, some idea of acquiring the praise and commendation of men, some aim at self-aggrandizement, it will be simply impossible to find out God’s purpose concerning us.” Nothing will go right in our effort to hear God if this false motivation is its foundation. God simply will not cooperate. We must discover a different type of motivation for knowing God’s will and listening to his voice.  —Dallas Willard, Hearing God Through the Year

Often, we seek to hear God’s voice not out of love, but out of need—hoping He’ll confirm our plans, protect our comforts, or bless our efforts. It’s easy to treat God like a divine safety net or a spiritual consultant, asking Him to speak only when we want direction that fits our desires. But the heart of truly following Jesus is not using Him to serve our agenda, but surrendering ourselves to His agenda. God isn’t silent—He’s speaking—but often we miss His voice because we’re only listening for what we want to hear. Our motives matter deeply when we seek God. Scripture tells us, “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). Let’s ask ourselves today, “Am I willing to hear whatever He says, even if it challenges my comfort?” Then let us pray: “Speak, Lord—Your servant is listening.” —DH