Be in places to be able to hear Abba, Father

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Lesson 13 Devotional: Jesus | He Listens to His Father.

Mark 12:10-11 (NIV)"Haven't you read this passage of Scripture: 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?"

In our walk with Jesus, we are continually learning to tune our hearts to hear God’s voice. As we deepen our relationship with our Abba Father, we discover that He speaks to us in many ways. Jesus set the perfect example for us, showing us how to listen to God’s Word, how to be still and quiet in prayer, and how to recognize God’s guidance in everyday life. In this lesson, we will explore four key ways that we can listen to Abba Father: through His Word, through prayer, in moments of silence and stillness, and through observation and even sleep. As we do, we will emphasize the importance of testing everything we hear against Scripture, ensuring we are listening to the Holy Spirit in alignment with God’s truth

1Listen To God's Word
2Listen Through Prayer
3Listen Through Silence and Stillness
4Listen Through Observation and Sleep

Listen To God's Word

God Speaks to Us From the WordWe listen to God directly when we read Scripture. The Bible is our guide, giving us clear commands and promises from our Father. Just as Jesus submitted to God’s Word about who He was, we too find our identity in the Word and obey its instructions. Reference Lesson 11, where we explored our identity as God's children. However, we must always ensure that what we perceive as instruction aligns with the whole of Scripture, testing the spirit to confirm we are hearing from the Holy Spirit and not being led astray.

God Speaks to Us While We Read the WordSometimes, as we read the Bible, God places unrelated ideas or insights in our hearts. These are not distractions but rather the Holy Spirit guiding us, giving us creativity, direction, and solutions to life’s challenges. Psalm 119:105 reminds us that God's Word is a lamp to our feet, lighting our path. Even in this process, we must be diligent in testing these insights against Scripture to ensure they are from God, as Jesus did when He applied Scripture to His life and ministry.

Listen Through Prayer

Listening Through Prayer

Psalm 145:1-21 I will exalt you, my God the King;I will praise your name for ever and ever.2 Every day I will praise youand extol your name for ever and ever.

The first thing I do when I pray—especially in the morning under the stars—is lift my hands and look up to heaven and give praise to God. During that time of adoration of my Abba Father, I feel so exhilarated. I feel such a close connection to Him. During these moments, my mind opens up, and unintentionally, lots of creativity and faith flow into me. Now, that wasn’t my intention. My intention was simply to give Him praise, but that praise allows God to speak to my heart. This is what I mean by listening through prayer.As we pray, God often opens our hearts and minds to new insights, even if they aren’t directly related to the topic of our prayer. Through praise and thanksgiving, God can speak into our lives, revealing creative solutions to problems or blessings we may not have considered. However, it is vital to test these insights against Scripture to ensure they align with God’s truth. Jesus always aligned His actions and teachings with Scripture, and we should do the same.

Listening From PrayerWhen we pray for specific things, God answers us directly. Just as Jesus prayed before choosing His twelve disciples, we too can bring our needs before God and receive His guidance in clear, tangible ways. Yet, we must always test these answers against the truth of Scripture, ensuring that our answers from prayer are consistent with God's will and direction.

Listen Through Silence and Stillness

Breathing and Connecting with GodIn moments of stillness, as we breathe and quiet our minds, we can listen to God. Genesis 2:7 tells us that God breathed life into Adam, and through our own breath, we can reconnect with His Spirit. Practicing stillness helps us find peace, creativity, and a deeper connection with God. Jesus often went away to solitary places to pray and be still, as seen in Mark 1:35. As we engage in these practices, we must ensure that the insights we receive align with Scripture, testing the spirit to confirm that we are truly hearing from God.

Listen Through Observation and Sleep

Listening Through ObservationWe can observe how God speaks through creation and the circumstances of our lives. As Romans 1:20 says, God’s divine nature is revealed through what has been made. We also learn from our experiences, illnesses, or challenges, recognizing that God is speaking to us through these situations (Job 33:14-30). However, we must always test what we observe against Scripture, ensuring that we are not misinterpreting what God is showing us.

Listening Through SleepGod speaks to us in our sleep, delivering insight and solutions to problems we’ve been working on. Psalm 127:2 reminds us that God provides for us even while we sleep, and many of us receive dreams or wake up with fresh ideas and creativity that God has placed in our hearts during rest. However, any insights we gain must be tested against the truth of Scripture to ensure they are from God, just as Jesus’ teachings and actions were always aligned with the Word.

Walking As Jesus Did: Practical ApplicationHow can we apply what we’ve learned today to walk as Jesus did?

1God Speaks to Us from the Word:: Tomorrow morning, spend time meditating on a specific passage of Scripture, and ask God to remind you of who you are in Him. Pay close attention to how the passage applies directly to your identity as His child. Test the insights you receive against the rest of Scripture.
2God Speaks to Us While We Read the Word: As you read the Bible this week, take note of any unrelated thoughts or creative ideas that come to mind. Write them down and pray for guidance on how to act on them. Ensure that these ideas align with Scripture by testing them against God’s Word.
3Listening Through Prayer: Start your prayers with praise and thanksgiving, and as you do, notice if God opens your heart to new ideas or solutions unrelated to your current prayer topic. Write these down and reflect on them later, ensuring they are aligned with Scripture by testing them against God’s Word.
4Listening Through Observation and Sleep: Before going to bed, ask God to speak to you through your dreams or first thoughts upon waking. In the morning, take note of any new insights or creative solutions that come to mind. Test these revelations against Scripture to ensure they are truly from God.

Lesson 13 Training Tips: Listening Like Jesus

Getting More from Your Study of the GospelsThese insights aim to build your faith, deepen your understanding, and encourage practical application of God’s Word.

1Read: Read Mark 12:10-11 aloud, reflecting on Jesus’ submission to God’s Word and how He fulfilled His role as the cornerstone.
2Meditate: Meditate on Mark 12:10-11 and consider how God speaks to you through His Word. Reflect on how Scripture gives you direction and strength.
3Pray: Pray for God to help you listen more attentively to His Word and guidance, opening your heart to hear Him in new ways.

ConclusionAs we grow in our relationship with Abba Father, we learn to listen to Him in multiple ways. Through His Word, through prayer, through silence and stillness, and even through our sleep and observations of life, God speaks. Let us embrace this beautiful relationship with our Father, eager to hear His voice in every aspect of our lives. However, as we listen, we must always test what we hear against Scripture to ensure we are being led by the Holy Spirit. God desires that we spend time with Him now, listening and responding, just as we will spend eternity with Him in perfect communion. If we long to spend eternity with God, let’s show Him by listening now.

Lesson 13: Jesus | With Him, We Learn to Listen to Abba, Father (Mark 12:10-11)

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