Forget Faith Formulas

When it comes to hearing from God, it is best to put away the formulas. Frankly, faith formulas are not of faith; they are man-made contrivances based on other peoples’ experiences. Our walk with God is individualistic in nature; although, biblical principles apply to all. That means the way God interacts with one person will be different from another. In short, don’t mimic someone else’s walk thinking you’ll get the desired result.
By the way, you might as well ditch the idea of “Five steps to successfully walk by faith,” and the like. God cannot be put in a box; moreover, He doesn’t want you in a box either. That is what religion does. It has no life, because it is based on dead works. If you are looking for a faith-formula, try this on for size:
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). While this applies to how we received salvation by grace through faith, we also find it works relationally. The Example of this is Jesus, Himself. He did and said things based on what He saw the Father do, and what He heard Him say. Think relationship, and think humility.

Deny Yourself, Take Up Your Cross and Follow Him

This is very basic: He is God and we are not! Faith does not work very well if you insist on having things your way. This is where faith-formulas get you into trouble. Meaning, some try to use the Word of God to get what they want from Him with no regards to His perfect will. That’s what spoiled children do, and He does discipline those who are spoiled, which is also an indicator of His love (see Hebrews 12:1-13).
Matthew 16:24-25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.
Deny the self says, “I love God more than myself and my reputation.” It does things on His terms, and recognizes His sovereignty. It will not bargain! Moreover, when you deny yourself, you will not attempt to use faith to satisfy the flesh. This later one manifests in numerous ways. It removes the insistence of having things your way, and surrenders to the Cross. You do not insert yourself into the situation: you wait on God.
Taking up your cross means full surrender! It’s a place of decision. You give up all control, which means you cannot control the method of your crucifixion. If one will not take up one’s cross, one cannot follow Jesus. At Gethsemane, showed us the perfect example (see Matthew 26:36; Mark 14:32). Gethsemane means oil press, and is a place of pressure where the decision is made to accept or reject the will of the Father. When Jesus carried His Cross, He had fully surrendered Himself to be crucified.
The reason some have a difficult time hearing from God is they have not embraced this principle. Of course, some haven’t learned it yet. Some simply refuse, because they’re listening too much to their flesh. Here is one example of why some find it difficult to hear.
God has asked some to let go of something; in fact, He has asked numerous times. Each time they have clutched onto that thing tighter, and tighter with each request. As a result, their heart has closed up to what God has to say, and has for them. In this instance, if they would obey Him, it would be far easier to hear from Him. For them it is simple: trust Him and let go! As Jesus said, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”
Psalm 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
The hazard of insisting on your way is obvious. However, by delighting in the Lord, you open yourself up to receive His desires for you, which frees Him up to give you the desires of your heart. This may sound like a formula; but it’s not. Here is a passage of Scripture that may prove useful on which to meditate:
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.

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