Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. NIV
I know a brother in the Lord who was given a multi million naira office space for free. He told me about how he started his fashion business on foot. He went from one office to another selling suits and shoes. God led him to take the pictures of his wares on his iPad and he began to exhibit them around offices. His customers fell in love with the idea and they began to place their orders. It was in one of his marketing trips he met the son of a wealthy oil mogul in Nigeria who told him he would give him an office space in Victoria Island for free and he did. In our conversation, the point that struck me was when he said he acted like a 'fool' so that God could speak to him. Acting like a fool in the context of our conversation meant that he went to God with an open mind that was not ready to dictate to God but was ready to hear from God and obey.
I discovered that sometimes we go making enquiries from God with a preconceived mindset of what we want to hear. Sometimes, we are too full of ourselves and our wisdom yet we want to hear God speak. It is absolutely impossible. The man that would hear God must take the posture of a 'fool' who doesn't know anything so that God who knows everything can speak to him and offer guidance. That's how to hear from God. If you're too rigid with your decisions, you may not hear God lead you against what you've decided. Some have made up their minds never to marry from another tribe and they are very rigid about it. Such people may end up telling us that God spoke to them about their choice of a spouse but we know that they chose from a self-imposed limited range of options.
After the Holy Spirit's indwelling, if there's one thing that is priceless in the life of a believer, I think it is the ability to hear God clearly and know Him by His voice. On several occasions in my life and ministry, I have heard God either through His word or in my heart and through his servants on some occasions. The man that is rigid and has stubborn preferences may not hear the voice of His majesty. Do you want to hear God? Please, discard what you know and take the posture of a 'fool' who doesn't know anything. God won't bother speaking to you as long as you claim to know the way to go. He would only show the way to those that acknowledge that they don't know the way. Learn to ask questions with a sincere heart that want to receive sincere answer from God.
Father, I empty myself of human knowledge and wisdom. My ears are open to hear from you in Jesus name.