Welcome Confident Heart Online Study and Encouragement for Today friends!! If you’re new here, welcome!
On Sunday, I started an online study of my book, A Confident Heart and I’d love to have you join us! (Click here for more details).
One of the first things I learned, when it came to overcoming self-doubts and living in the security of God’s promises , is that we have to recognize and listen to God’s voice. It’s also the topic of my P31 devotion today. Here’s a little more about where my “listening to God” story came to a turning point. At the end I share “How to Discern God’s Voice” and a give-away.
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I sat on looking out the window, wondering what the future held. My excitement, mixed with the fear of getting over-committed, ignited a rapid firing of thoughts: What would I say yes or no to? What was God calling me to do? How would I figure out His plans and purpose for my schedule?
Wondering and worrying wasn’t getting me anywhere, so I wrote questions in a notebook: “Lord, what should I say yes to? Where do You want me to spend my time? Will You please show me Your plans for me this coming year?”
I wanted a sneak peek into God’s calendar so I could adjust mine. Instead, I sensed Him telling me not to worry about tomorrow but to live each day in the hear and now. {And He even spelled it that way.}
I did okay when it came to obeying God in the obvious things. It was selfless acts of obedience that challenged me most. But that day, I made a commitment to live in the “hear” and now.
A few weeks after, I noticed my husband’s side of the closet was a mess. Immediately I thought about how J.J. enjoys “order” although it’s not his natural inclination. Then I sensed God whispering, “One way you could really love J.J. would be to organize his side of the closet.”
I wish I could say I obeyed. Instead, I argued: “He’s a grown man; he can organize his own side of the closet. I have two kids, two dogs and myself to keep up with. Have you seen our garage and attic, Lord?”
“Did you hear Me? Are you going to obey Me now?” God’s Spirit nudged.
How did I know it was God? you might ask. Well, I knew it wasn’t my idea.
Just that week I’d read the parable of the talents in Matthew 25, and recognized myself in the third servant. He hadn’t been entrusted with much so he buried his talent in the ground. I always assumed since he wasn’t faithful with it because he thought his Master wouldn’t notice.
Sometimes I saw my role as a wife, mom and friend as “average” one-talent kind of assignments. Plenty of people have the same responsibilities, I thought. Without realizing it, I let myself slip into being selfish and impatient here and there. But God wanted my willingness in every area of my life – hear and now – acting on His promptings throughout my day.
Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 (NIV) And the more we listen to and obey God, the more familiar His voice becomes.
Obedience means exchanging our will for His.
So, why does God wants moment-by-moment, day-by-day obedience? Because He loves us and wants us to trust Him.
God is so patient as we learn to trust Him. And we discover over time that it’s in our relationship with Him, we find the purpose, direction and meaning we’re looking for. When we live in the “hear and now” our calling and our calendar begin to reflect our love for Him, and His love for us — not our need for fulfillment or the desire for others’ approval and acceptance.
Dear Jesus, am I living and listening the way You want me to? Sometimes I fall into the trap of waiting for a better tomorrow or an easier assignment so that I can be faithful. Help me trust You. I want to but sometimes I’m afraid. Give me courage to listen and follow You with all my heart! Amen
PS. I reorganized JJ’s side of the closet ,and I’m almost sure I heard God chuckle and felt the warmth of His smile. May He smile on you today as you commit to live in the hear and now – acting on what you hear and living it out now.
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Discerning God’s Voice
Here are a few questions we can ask. When I sense God speaking, whether it be through scripture, an impression on my heart, circumstances or through His spirit in me, I always look for Biblical consistency:
- Is it consistent with God’s Word and God’s ways?
- Is it consistent with wise Biblical counsel I’ve sought?
- Is it consistent with God’s leading through doors He’s opened and closed?
- Is there a consistent theme I’m seeing in my life or hearing during my personal Bible study time, through sermons, Christian songs, conversations, etc?
Recognizing God’s ways and God’s will comes as we spend more and more time in His word. All of us have different things that draw us closer to Jesus, and here is one practical thing that helps me: watching the Gospel of John movie on DVD. It makes Jesus, His words, the people and the stories He lived in come to life in a powerful way. After watching it, when I read my Bible I can see Him and hear Him. Which makes me want to spend more and more time with Him, which helps me know Him and recognize His voice more clearly.
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So, what is one thing you could do to become more familiar with God’s voice?
Let me know by clicking “Share Your Thoughts” below and you’ll be entered to win my “Listening to God” gift pack which includes a copy of the Gospel of John movie on DVD, my book A Confident Heart and my message on CD, Rest Assured: How to Rest, Be Renewed & Remain in God’s Promises and Plans .
Also, if you want to join my online study, please click here for more details. I just found a deal this week for those who can’t afford the book and shipping. Amazon has the Ebook for $8.99 and they offer FREE Kindle for your PC software! So, you only have to pay $8.99 and the book downloads onto your computer! Email [email protected] if you want more details about that deal!
(If you are reading this post in an email, click here to return to my website to enter your comment into the drawing.)
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I have found when I am in His Word regularily and journaling I can hear His voice more clearly and when I sacrifice time to be alone with Him. I asked Him everyday to interrupt my life so I know he is around, and he wanted me to know more of his word so he put me in not 1 but 2 bible studies!!!!!!! For years he has told me to know of his word,,so i guess Now is the time he chose. The other one I am doing is breaking free with beth moore.
both are similar in some respects
thanks so much for listening to Him and beginning this class
i printed the prayer and say it every day, the day before i started this class had a big lesson on doubt so there was NO question in my mind I was following His lead.
thanks again
I ask God to make me more willing to listen and to hear what He is telling me and what His will for me is…..To be still, calm and quiet so I can hear Him!!!
The key for me is just to start being consistent! In coming to Him in the mornings! I have strugged with this morning scene for years. I know what to do; but the doing of it often lags. The more I read His Word; Iwill be more familiar with His voice. I have implemented Bible Reading Plans this year. So far so good!
I am so excited to do this bible study, but at the same time afraid to hope and trust, this is so much what I have been praying for a very long time. Christi
I need to, first off, make my daily devotion time a priority. Not group it with something else, or skip it for something “more important.” There is NOTHING more important. I have taken 3 blocks of time, and I consistently manage one of them. I need to be better with this. The more time I spend with the Lord, the better I will be able to hear what he has to say to me. I can’t wait to “hear” what it is!
I am finally starting to get it and am making sense of my husband’s passing at such a young age a few months ago. Jesus is taking hold and not letting me sink in to depths of depression!!
I need to empty my head of my thoughts and invite Him to fill me with His thoughts and ideas—- For me this must be intentional —- to get still and focus on Him. Most of all being completely WILLIING to hear WHATEVER He says. Then trust and obey, knowing that He knows best.
Sometimes, if I’m really honest, I don’t want to hear Him— because I don’t always like His ideas— at least not at first. But, when I listen and obey— I’m never disappointed. His ideas and ways ALWAYS trump my own.
I am a broken vessel, constantly searching for strength in GOD. I often hear GOD’S voice but have no confidence to follow it through. I so hope this book study will help me!
RIght now my life is fairly chaotic, being pulled in a dozen different directions. My prayer is that I can hear God’s voice as I sort out the tangled threads. I have a full time job, I run a horse farm, and I have a major life crossroads ahead that is pretty much completely out of my control. I know what I want but that is only half the equation. Being patient and listening is hard.
Sometimes, I’m just not sure if I’m hearing God’s voice or my own voice in my head. I want to do things and find that sometimes I am too afraid of failure to do them. Sometimes, I have prayed about a situation and end up hearing lyrics on my favorite Christian station almost exactly like something I had said. I try to slow down and listen to the words. It’s usually something I really needed to hear for the day. But I wonder constantly what He wants me to do. I’m probably missing out on His whole plan because I’m too busy stressing over everything. I need to be still and listen.
Hello friends,
On Sunday I read chap. 1 of A Confident Heart. Question 4 at the end of the chapter, asked me what happens in my heart when I read God’s word. It had me stumped. As I prayed about it, I realized that I have muted my heart and come to rely on my head. I asked God to help me hear with my heart and He did. What a difference!!!! Prov. 3:5-6 has been an important passage for me for many years but realizing the difference between hearing with my heart and my head illuminated this passage even more. So, to answer today’s question about one thing I can do to become more familiar with God’s voice, I would say I will consciously give my heart opportunity to hear and respond. Thanks for being the vessel for this revelation!!!! I look forward to more!!!!
I think that being intentional about our spiritual lives is key. God is showing me that He wants to be my first thought, not an after-thought. We do have crazy-busy lives. It is my job to be creative in how many different ways I can set my mind on Him.
I loved the phrase “hear and now”. Communication is a two way street and too often I want to do all the talking! I want to focus more on finding a quiet time to “listen” more. It seems the busyness of life is always competing for my attention. Even doing wonderful activities for the Lord, but sometimes God just wants me to sit at his feet and praise and worship Him. Dear Lord, I’m sorry I get so distracted. Help me to focus my gaze on You especially in the “hear and now”.
I am a baby Christian (saved 11-3-11) and I am hungry for God. I keep pressing in but I am still not sure of many things. Thank you Renee for all of your insights!
Hi Laura, so excited for your Christian journey that has just begun! I will be keeping you in my prayers as you continue to seek Him…You know what? I was debating over posting this, but I truly sensed God telling me to send you a note! so, I hope this, in some small way, will encourage you!
I believe I need to slow down and have some quiet time to be better at hearing Gods voice.
I am a “Plan-a-lot-amus” as my daughter calls me and have got 28 hrs planned for my next 24 hrs. 🙂 Too much I want to do mixed with my need to dos and have to dos.
So I need to cut the planning so much or Plan for some “nothing” so I can sit and be still to Hear His voice.
Blessings
Lynn
I was challenged recently to read through the entire Bible in the next 4 months by Keith Ferrin of That You May Know Ministries. He has some really good insights on Bible Study. Anyway, being more familiar with scripture is my goal for the coming year – a great way to hear God’s voice.
One of the ways that I could do to become more familiar with God’s voice is to have a real quiet time time with HIM, a daily appointment so to speak. I do my best to get up 30 minutes before the rest of the family gets up so I can meditate on the scripture for the week and just BE STILL and KNOW HE IS GOD….I have a real hard time being still and not multi-tasking. Even to watch a movie I have to be reading, writing or doing something else…I have to really be interested in the movie or concentrate to not be doing anything else. Another way that I am going to work on is to LISTEN to my children more…not just hear what they are saying but really actively listen to them…I REALLY need to work on this as well….I think that GOD speaks to us through our children at times if we are just willing to listen…
Pray and ask God to help me know His voice, and to keep a listening ear. Spending quiet time with Him, time that is uninterrupted is helpful. Asking God questions and asking Him to show us, all the while looking for an answer (keeping a listening ear) is helpful too.
Be more in His word and through prayer. Stop and breathe first.
It is hard for me to be quiet during prayer time or to sit still. When I sut in silence to hear God my mind wanders after several minutes. i think about dinner or the kids or what needs to be done. I believe that the more I make an effort the better I will become at listening for the Holy Spirit to speak to me in the stillness of God’s presence. Sometimes I need a personnal Word regarding a situation and I want it now. I have to turn off the TV and the music so when the answer comes I will know it is for me.