When someone is confronted by God and called into the Kingdom, he or she immediately enters the Valley of Decision, a battleground, and that battleground is within. Suddenly, there are 2 persons recognized. It’s the age-old analogy of the little angel on the right shoulder and the little devil on the left shoulder, competing for the person’s will.
Sounds like what psychologists call schizophrenia or multiple personality disorder, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not. The Bible calls it a battle between flesh and spirit:
“What your corrupt nature wants is contrary to what your spiritual nature wants, and what your spiritual nature wants is contrary to what your corrupt nature wants. They are opposed to each other. As a result, you don’t always do what you intend to do” Galatians 5:17.
I’ve been conflicted in the past by what I’ve heard within. “Is that God or is that my own thinking? Is it Satan trying to mislead me?” It can be dangerous to presume anything. The best thing I could do was ask God who was speaking.
And God answers! Sometimes it was God I heard from and sometimes not. I’ve also learned the sober lesson of not getting His judgment before acting. It’s sheer folly to trust ourselves.
So, we learn, and we grow to maturity where hearing His Voice is not such a challenge. “My sheep hear My Voice,” Jesus said, “and they will not follow another.”
You must admit it’s a wonderful privilege to hear your Creator’s Voice of guidance and instruction. Imagine that! You have at your service the Creator of the Universe, the One Who loves you, knows all things, and has all authority in existence. How can anyone go wrong with that?
But with hearing the Lord’s Voice, He requires that we obey Him. Why should He talk to anyone who won’t obey Him? God is no fool. He doesn’t mess with triflers or those who don’t reverence Him. He’s God, and if you want a relationship with Him, you better be prepared to believe and obey Him.
Many are those who claim faith, but few love God. As He said, “In vain do they worship Me with their lips, but their hearts are from Me.” He said that. Anything He says is true. He says many things about people. He knows their hearts. He knows their hearts are ever set on doing their own thing, refusing to obey Him.
The Lord by Jeremiah the prophet said, “You shall seek Me and find Me when you shall search for Me with all your heart.” The Lord also said, “Ask, and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you,” and He’ll answer. “For everyone who asks, receives, everyone who seeks, finds, and everyone who knocks, to them it shall be opened.” It worked for me, thank God, and it can work for anyone who follows this good counsel of His. Why wait? What do you have to lose?