Someone recently asked me, “How do you hear from God?” God is such a creative Father and His ways of communicating with us are numerous, at least in my experience. There’s His divine word, as spoken in the Bible. Although written thousands of years ago, His word is still alive and relevant for today. There have been many times in which I’ve read a scripture at random but then realize it’s not random at all. Instead, the scripture provides me with Godly wisdom and timely perspective on issues or challenges that I’m currently journeying. I know many people have had this same experience.

Sometimes God speaks to me through others, although they may not even realize God is using him or her as a messenger. There have been countless times when a friend or co-worker’s personal story or testimony has spoken volumes to me, leaving no doubt that the Lord is conveying a message to me, often a message of hope.

Similarly, He often communicates through a pastor’s message in church on Sunday. Have you ever been inspired by a pastor’s teaching on David, the shepherd boy who ran toward Goliath with complete trust in God, slaying the giant in an instant? Have you ever heard such a message at a time in your life when it seemed like you were facing an insurmountable challenge (giant) but then had new inspiration to run toward it instead of from it?

My favorite way of hearing from the Lord is the most intimate – spending quiet time with Him, sometimes praying, sometimes just talking or venting, and then listening for His response. I don’t necessarily listen for His audible voice but often just a clear, concise thought that brings clarity and/or certainty in a way that my own thoughts don’t. And the Lord never speaks words of fear, discouragement or anger, nor does He speak negatively of others. Never. Just words of wisdom, exaltation, encouragement, comfort, truth, and good ideas that bring me peace and clarity. Indeed, Psalm 138:8 says “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.” I also know that “God has not given me a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind” (II Timothy).

So what has God been saying to me in this Lenten season? As I contemplate that question, three themes emerge: grace, trust and humility. In the Hawaiian Baibala, you may find these concepts to be ka lokomaikaʻi, ka hilinaʻi and ka haʻahaʻa. He has “spoken” these themes in all the manners described above, so I know there’s real weight in them, that God wants me to hoʻolohe pono – listen up.

Ka Lokomaikaʻi – Grace
God’s grace is immeasurable and never ending. His grace on my life is more than I deserve. And I know I’m called to model the Lord. So do I have grace for others – my wife, my children, my co-workers, my staff, my friends, strangers, politicians, celebrities, those in authority – just as the Lord has for me?

Ka Hilinaʻi – Trust
God is calling on me to trust Him more than ever before. Can I trust Him? Do I trust Him in the most difficult circumstances – the challenges at home, at work, in the future? I can choose to worry without end or trust that the Lord will use this challenge to grow my faith and make me stronger.

Ka Haʻahaʻa – Humility
If I want to be entrusted with big kuleana, do I have the humility to pursue excellence in the smallest of tasks? If I want to be charged with authority over others, do I have the humble heart to sincerely serve others with patience, kindness and joy? For Ke Akua, Our God says in I Peter 5:6, “No laila, e hoʻohaʻahaʻa ʻoukou iā ʻoukou iho ma lalo iho o ka lima mana o ke Akua, i hoʻokiʻekiʻe aʻe ʻo ia iā ʻoukou i ka wā pono.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

As Lent continues and we head toward celebrating Jesus’ resurrection, I encourage everyone to take some time to talk with God, vent if you need to, ask questions, and listen for His response. What is He saying to you?

TEEN TAKE
By Jrae Viela, KSM’16

Being a senior in high school, there are a lot of distractions that make it hard for you to hear from God. Luckily for me, I have my parents, friends, family and Kahu in my life who bring me back to reality so I can hear from God when I sometimes get caught up in all the craziness. God is everywhere and He speaks to everyone differently.

For me, I feel like God speaks to me the most at church through the pastor, my daily devotional or through my parents. The message at church each week is different and is somehow always relevant. Those weekly messages and daily devotionals help me get through anything and everything. Although I most of the time I don't like listening to my parents, God speaks to me through them. He uses them to make sure I'm doing the right thing, making the right decisions so I can have a good life.

I'm writing this on Tuesday, March 15, my brother Pono's birthday, who passed away in 2004. His birthday has always been a really hard day to get through but this year it's been harder than usual. Because of God's never ending grace, trust and humility, I have been able to get through it. He used those things through my dad today as my dad was comforting me and making sure that I was okay. Today after talking to my dad I realized how important and special the Lenten season really is – not only because of all the sacrifices that Jesus went through just for us but also because of the blessing my family received on that day.

After Pono's passing, I told my parents that I wanted another brother but since my mom couldn’t have babies naturally any longer, they had to go through in vitro fertilization. Easter Sunday was the day that Jai, my younger brother was conceived. That wasn't just a coincidence; it was a sign from God.

As we continue to go through this Lenten season, open up to God, listen/talk to Him and pray. He'll help you through anything and everything. So how do you hear God? What is He saying to you?

Download the entire Lent devotional which includes scripture, questions to ponder, a prayer, keiki activity and the hymn lyrics.

Sing along with the Lent week 6 hīmeni, ʻTrust and Obeyʻ

Sing along with this week’s Kamehameha Schools Lent devotional hīmeni (hymn) “Aia Hele Kākou” (Trust and Obey) as performed by KS Cultural Specialist Hau'oli Akaka and Cultural Consultant Manu Boyd. KS created Hawaiian-focused devotionals for use by students, families and others to celebrate the coming of Easter. Each includes scripture, student and staff messages, a prayer and more. The devotionals will posted to the KS I Mua Newsroom every Friday leading up to Easter. See the devotionals as they post at http://www.ksbe.edu.

KS Maui Kahu Kalani Wong and Vice President of Communications Kevin Cockett contributed to this week's Lent devotional on listening to God.

KSK Kahu Kordell Kekoa, KSM Kahu Kalani Wong and KSH Kahu Kaunaloa Boshard developed the Lent series. View their intro to the devotionals in the video below.

KS Maui senior Jrae Viela tells the story of how God spoke to her 'ohana through an Easter miracle, in the “Teen Take” section of the devotional.

KS Cultural Specialist Hau'oli Akaka and Cultural Consultant Manu Boyd sing the hymn, “Trust and Obey” as part of this week’s devotional. Sing along by viewing the video below.

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