Hearing from God

Taking Time for God

Core principle: God doesn't have a speaking problem; we have a hearing problem due to constant distractions

Five principles from Habakkuk 2:1-3 :

1. Stand at your watch - Create uninterrupted time for prayer
   • We are the most distracted generation in history, mainly due to devices
   • Recommendation to use old-fashioned alarm clocks instead of phones to avoid seeing emails/texts before feet hit the floor
   • Disconnect from phone 2 hours before bed
   • God speaks more clearly when there are no competing voices - like hearing someone clearly in an empty stadium vs. a full one
2. Look to see what the Lord will say - Train your eyes to see what God sees
   • Connect with your heart's passions and holy discontent
   • Current passion example: harvest is growing, but there is a declining interest in vocational leadership
3. Write it down - Document the vision
   • Writing helps you live into the future from a planning perspective
   • Example: wrote out what it would take to double attendance, identifying barriers like needing more small group leaders
   • Example: wrote out plan for building all 26 locations, which became a $100M+ vision
4. The one who reads it can run with it - Take action toward the dream daily
   • Don't spend so much time perfectly articulating an idea that you never act
   • The dream reveals itself along the way as you move toward it
   • God plays "bait and switch" - gets you moving one direction to take you where He really wants you
   • Highlands College example: started with vision for 50-100 leaders but grew as they moved forward
5. Wait for it with tenacity - Don't give up on the dream

Bucket List Principle

• Chapter 5 of Legacy Letters book covers the bucket list principle
• John Maxwell taught how to build a bucket list of things to do before heaven
• Pastor Chris has 103 items on his list, reviews monthly, and marks completed items in yellow
• Dreams are the language of the Holy Spirit - God speaks through visions and prophecies (Acts 2)
• Holy Spirit is there for function, not just fun - to guide, lead, and show direction
• Devil's number one tool is lying about fear of rejection or failure to prevent risk-taking

Importance of Extended Time with God

• After just 3 days of retreat, the ability to hear from God increased tenfold
• Extended time away allows God to feel like He's sitting next to you during work
• Must make room for God - He wants to show us "great and mighty things" we don't know yet (Jeremiah 33:3)