Inside Christmas: Life With Emmanuel, God With UsSample

You CAN Hear From God! 

The fascinating part of the story of the magi to me is their boldness to venture out following a star.  Mary, Joseph, and even the shepherds had angels come and speak to them, but the Kings from the east were taking it one step at a time, turn here, turn there, walk this way, go that way. They were on a mission to find the promise of God. They lived their lives intentionally listening and looking for when and where to go.

A lot of people think they can’t hear God. I have felt that at times. I remember practicing listening to His voice years ago. I had just dropped the kids off at school and decided I would take a new route home but only by hearing the voice of God within me. I was making room for Him to speak and me to hear. I was intentionally listening and looking for where to go. I would come to a turn and ask the Lord, “Do I turn right or left?” and listen to the thought that came up from my heart, not down from my head. I can honestly say I hit more dead ends that day than all the other days combined of my driving career. Maybe a star in the sky would have been easier but much less rewarding and short-lived.

You can imagine how I wanted to say, “I can’t hear from God,” but despite how I felt, I dug my heels in and decided to agree with what Jesus said in His word. I would grit my teeth and say, “Jesus is my shepherd, and I hear His voice. I follow Him!”

Finally, I came upon an antique shop I used to love to visit on one of my turns. I felt like I should stop. It looked like they were having a yard sale with a lot of their furniture sitting outside. Once I stopped, I noticed that they had moved but left a sign with the lady’s phone number in the window.  

I called and asked where they had moved to and reminded her she still had a lot of furniture outside.  

She said they needed to take another trip to get it, but it would help her out if I took whatever I wanted. This thrilled my heart!  God knows how much I like finding treasures, and He was speaking my love language.

When the angels came to the shepherds, they said, “Do not be afraid, for I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people. For this day in the city of David has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

We are living on the fullness side of that announcement! Emmanuel, God with us, is so with us. He lives in us through the Holy Spirit.  We can look within ourselves for the One who made the heavens instead of looking up to the heavens to get direction.

Intentionally engage with God, make room to do life with Him. Practice listening for His voice. Perhaps ask Him where to go to lunch or which way to drive home. If you get off course, it’s okay. Even the magi took a sidestep and talked to King Herod. They quickly course-corrected, looking up for the star and getting back on track. 

Refuse to go by your feelings. Choose to agree with Jesus through His Word regardless of how things look or feel.

Pray-

Thank you, Father, that I am your sheep and Jesus is my good shepherd. I hear Your voice, and I follow You. Help me learn Your voice more clearly every day and that you are directing my steps. Thank you for being Emmanuel, God with us. 

Read-

Matthew 2:1-12 AMP

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king (Herod the Great), magi (wise men) from the east came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he called together all the chief priests and scribes of the people and [anxiously] asked them where the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed) was to be born. They replied to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what has been written by the prophet [Micah]:

‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are not in any way least among the leaders of Judah;

For from you shall come a Ruler

Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

Then Herod secretly sent for the magi and learned from them the [exact] time the star [had first] appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search carefully for the Child; and when you have found Him, report to me, so that I too may come and worship Him.” After hearing the king, they went their way; and behold, the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them [continually leading the way] until it came and stood over the place where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And after entering the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, after opening their treasure chests, they presented to Him gifts [fit for a king, gifts] of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned [by God] in a dream not to go back to Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.”

John 10:27 KJV 

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”