Hearing God’s Voice from His Word
James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”
Take a moment and turn your attention to God. Tell God that you desire to trust and obey Him. Ask God to speak to you from His word.
Psalm of the Day
Psalm 4:6-8 Many are asking, “Who can show us anything good?” Let the light of your face shine on us, Lord.
7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound.
8 I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety.
Read the entire Psalm
The Psalmist here looks to God for goodness, for joy, for peaceful sleep and for safety. God is the one who makes these things a reality. Ask Him to let his goodness, the light of his face, shine on you so that others would see his goodness.
Scripture Reading & Reflection
What Jesus has told them is that trouble is coming. He doesn’t want them to stumble, but they will. The reason he has not told them this yet is because he was with them, and he had absorbed much of the abuse, but now he was leaving them. Peter and Thomas had asked where he was going, but they were really protesting his going more than actually wanting information about what was to come. His going was to be for their, and our, ultimate good. Jesus went to the cross, rose from the dead, and returned to his former glory. He sent the Holy Spirit to indwell his people and to multiply the ministry that he had begun in his days in the flesh on the earth.
John 16:1-11
I have told you these things to keep you from stumbling. 2 They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 They will do these things because they haven’t known the Father or me. 4 But I have told you these things so that when their time comes you will remember I told them to you. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going away to him who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Yet, because I have spoken these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: 9 About sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; 11 and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
Having God’s Ear through Prayer
- Express thanks to God.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin to you.
- Confess your sin to Him and receive forgiveness.
(1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.”) - Bring your personal requests to God.
(Psalm 62:8 “Pour out your heart before God”) - Pray for someone in your small group.
- Join with others from River and pray for Isaac and Suzanne. Ask God to encourage them, guide them, and use them as they serves in Germany at Black Forest Academy.