Is anyone hearing from God anymore?

"I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. The Lord's Answer:  Then the LORD replied:  "Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald  may run with it.  For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay."   Habakkuk 2:1-3

Habakukk knew well when God was speaking to Him. He had practiced hearing from God and took time to wait and get God's mind about what he should do.  Whatever happened to us getting on our face and begging God to speak to us, and then when we get an answer, implementing it and sticking to it?    I've found that God is so willing and ready to speak to me, and most times I don't have to get on my face and beg.  But when I need to, I absolutely do.  Whatever it takes, we've got to hear from God!

Does God really change his mind every day or every few days or even every few months?

When I take a look at how some leaders live I have to say it's no wonder people won't follow them.  How can you follow someone who changes their mind every other day on what they are supposed to do?  Or when they are a pastor and change their mind constantly about what the church is called to do or be?

For example, I love conferences as much as the next leader but I see them as something to build upon the vision God has already given me, not something designed to give me the vision in the first place.  Is it any wonder why some churches are in state of confusion when their pastor goes away to several conferences a year and every time they come home they get a "new vision" for the church that they want to impart?  In some ways it usually directly conflicts with whatever the previous "vision" was and they find some way to spin doctor it to make it sound like the "new vision" goes with the old one.    Truth be told it is usually someone else's vision they are receiving and try to make it work for their own life or place.

God's voice to us often comes as a thought, an idea, a phrase, or a flow of spontaneous thoughts.  We can't hear His voice unless we become still, and are patient enough to wait for it.  Habakkuk said, "I will stand at my watch..." (Habakkuk 2:1) which means that he waited there until God spoke.   Then he was told to write it down.  Why do we write a vision down?  Because if we don't it's too easy to forget it or move on to something else when we get tired of waiting instead of sticking to what God told us to do.  We are creatures who don't like to wait and get impatient to even wait for a baked potato or popcorn to cook in the microwave let alone waiting in silence for hours, days or weeks until God speaks.

Getting ideas from others is good. But there is nothing like hearing from the Lord yourself, and walking in step with the spirit.  And when you have heard from God if you are true to Him you are true to what He has told you.  And you do not change your mind every two seconds or even every two days on what you will do and jerk yourself, your family and the body of Christ around any longer on your little ride through the land of spiritual immaturity.  Larry and I know someone who has pastored five churches in less than three years.  With each change he told the church, "God has led me to the city and church I'm going to give the rest of my life to."  I guess God was wrong, at least the last four times.  Time will tell with the fifth.  

What helps you to hear clearly from God, and more important, to follow through? 

Disclaimer:  By the way, I normally wouldn't clarify what I'm saying in this manner but being that our friends the Mackleys mean so much to us and I wouldn't want anyone to take this post the wrong way, I am letting everyone know up front to not read into this blog that I am somehow referring to them!  I know they've heard from God in this move they have made.  I had this subject on my heart to share and realize it may look pointed for me to print something like this after their recent resignation, however please know that this post in NO WAY refers to them. Now, other people, yeah, I'm definitely referring to you.   :)