lesson #3 on hearing God's voice; being His friend

This is the 3rd lesson in a series about hearing God speak. I began with “Making ourselves available for the relationship of a Lifetime”, and followed with a lesson about becoming a friend of God. Today’s lesson is about getting to know God’s heart.

Lesson #3

We have friends and we have acquaintances. We share with our friends, and if they are especially close, we can divulge the contents of our hearts to them. It is not a sudden thing, this sharing of one’s heart, but a gradual opening up to the other person. If our trust is betrayed then we close back up again, and that person may not even be on “friend” status with us any more.

Before we open up to someone, we notice things about them that tell us if it is safe to be open with them. If they enjoy our company we feel good about them. But if they come to get information from us for their work, then they are more like a co-worker than a friend. If they care enough about us to ask how we are, and listen to our answer, we see that they have a good heart. But if they are self-interested then we guard the contents of our hearts, for we do not know what wrong use they might put our “contents” to.

I have noticed that being friends with the Lord is somewhat the same as being friends with men or women. If we care about Him we learn about His heart. He is not like a person who has needs we can meet. But He does enjoy our presence and we can enjoy His also. When God made the garden of Eden, He fellowshipped with Adam and Eve there. He walked with them in the cool of the evening and enjoyed conversation with them. I doubt that God came with a to-do list, or unloaded all His needs onto Adam and Eve’s shoulders. But I do believe that God enjoyed their presence, and they enjoyed His. Enjoying God’s presence for Who He is begins our friendship with Him. Knowing He enjoys our presence makes it special.

God will listen endlessly to us pour out our hearts to Him. But He will also seek the heart of His own special friends to share His own heart with. If we come seeking a prophecy for publication, or a word to meet our own personal quota, then we are a laborer, and may be full of self-interest. But when we lay aside any earthly gain we could seek from our relationship with God and just enjoy Him, this pleases God. And He will share His heart with you. What could be more precious than hearing the heart beat of God?