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.
_________________________________
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.
_________________________________
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.
_________________________________
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.)
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I’ve heard a lot about listening to God in prayer and to be honest I do not get it. Am I just suppose to sit there and wait? For what? I struggle with keeping my mind quiet. However I do see and sense the thread of. Ommon concepts that keep popping up in different areas of my daily life. I do have those “aha” moments when I can so clearly sense God showing me things, revealing my doubt, providing opportunities to believe and trust. On the way home today I took a different street because of road work. I was so busy praying and talking to God that I did not notice my surroundings. When I looked up it was the old neighborhood I grew up in. How I got there I am not sure. I watched the kids, the moms the people walking with groceries. I remembered what it was like to be a kid there. The fears, uncertainties and challenges I faced. How it had all left scars in my heart and mind. The furrows that had been plowed on my back and I remembered that God had found me there. He found me before I knew him. Before I knew that I would need him, before I knew that my life would depend on him. Before I knew and understood that it was for freedom that I was set free. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I was surveying some of the land we had traveled. It was really not that far from where I was really going yet it was a world away and there the God of all creation reached out to that afraid little girl and kept her safe. He loved her, he called her with loving kindness and he made her free. It was him saying I am the same God now that I was then, you can trust me, I will take care of you, I love you.
So I guess the thing I can do to practice living in the “hear and now” is listening.
I know God is speaking to me all the time. I too have troubles knowing if it is me or God speaking. I am trying to be quiet and listen. The calmer I am the more I understand. I always feel better when I am helping God’s people, more so than when I am doing something for myself. Going through major changes causes the hearing to be distorted and I just need to sit and be quiet and know God is there with me.
Loved the topic today! I always wonder…is this God speaking to me? Thank you for some guidelines to help me better discern what He wants from me.
The way i feel the closest to our God is to praise and worship him and I know if I took more time each day to do that i would draw closer to Him. Once i get through with praise and worship it takes me into an extended prayer time with Him. I want to draw closer and closer to Him each and everyday. Spending more time in his word has made me thirst for more of His word. I want to be transformed each and everytime i come into His presence……
In order for me to become mosr familiar with God’s voice, I need to spent more time in His word and being still so that I am able to hear His voice.
Thanks you so much for this study. My very best friend and sister in Christ is spending the winter in another state and we will not be together for our usual bible study so this is a wonderful opportunity for us to learn and grow and share in a different venue! I am already being challenged and stretched and I look forward to what God has in store for me tomorrow.
I have a lot of trouble sleeping at night…sometimes more than others. One thing I do to help me rest, focus my thoughts, and hear God’s voice is listen to sermon messages on CD or cassette tape as I drift off to sleep. It helps me focus on God’s Truth instead of worries, wandering thoughts, or frustration over lack of sleep. I have also been known to put in Christian movies to help me rest at night as well. Another thing I could do is just be still and pray…for others, for our country, for myself, pray God’s Word…I think I would hear God more often if I prayed more often.
~Jen
I must simply dwell in THE WORD more each day.
I am a college student and I was always brought in a Christian home and I believe in God and He’s the leader of my life. My family has gone through a lot and so my parents have taught me to have God. Yet, I realize I don’t sit down and do devotions or read the Bible. I always talk to God throughout the day. Today, I intentionally took time to sit down and just talked to him as I usually would. It was such an amazing, different experience, because I heard God’s voice. I sat there and I could just sense Him to trust Him with everything and I never have so clearly heard His voice as I did today.
What I know I need to do is take more time to spend in God’s presence. I do a little devotional and pray each morning and some times in the evening. But I don’t take the time to pray and just sit in his presence, waiting on Him. I know that I would hear from Him more if I do this.
Sometimes I feel that I’m not hearing God’s voice. The message this morning and the Proverbs 31 devotion touched me. I have asked God to open my ears and my eyes that I may hear and see Him whenever He speaks. That He will strengthen my trust in Him to follow what He tells me and where He sends me.
I so want to hear God’s voice every day and struggle with whether I can even hear Him. One thing I am trying to do is to learn how to be still and clear my head so He can talk to me. I find my thoughts taking over and I wonder if I could just quit “talking/thinking inside” if that would help me hear His voice.
Just like the comment above, this is my first time responding to a blog posting. I just finished reading your devotional on the Proverbs 31 website. Your topic of hearing from God has been my life challenge. As a young mom I struggled withing the busyness of raising three boys. Two have moved away from home, and yet the challenge as a full-time working mom still remains. I have felt guilty, felt like quitting, felt inadequate…and yet the challenge STILL remains. I wonder if I will conquer it on this side of eternity. Yet, it must be attainable. The verse, ” Be still and know that I am God” can be encapsulated in the words, “Be still.” So easy, yet nearly impossible in the world’s cacaphony.
As I get older, I am trying to get simpler in my plans. One thing I can do to become more familiar with God’s voice is to find a place and a time to just be still. Too long a time……and I fail again. Too fancy a place….and I won’t maintain it in the long run. Sooooo…for me…. I have begun to take even just 5 minutes in bed at night, before the light is turned out .I try to quiet the sounds of the day…. and the day to come– to God….and just be still. I don’t plan…argue…..or recite the plight of my day to Him. I just listen. ( I do need to be sitting upright or my eyes get heavy!!!!! 🙂 )
I have been trying this in earnest since Christmas. God has been moving…..now the second half of the challenge begins…..to trust that it is Him in what He says and does. Hummmmm….a life challenge to be sure.
Probably the main thing I need to do to hear God’s voice is to put time aside everyday to spend time reading His word and meditating on it. Also, I remember a time when I really put in the effort to memorize scripture and that is so helpful. It is so great when the Holy Spirit brings His word to mind when you need it. Also, I agree with praying His word out loud. That is so powerful.
Spending time in God’s word, in prayer, and in wait….just quieting my soul to hear Him has helped me to discern when it’s really His voice I hear. And I’ve learned that the more you seek Him, the more you’ll hear Him.
Loving the study so far! Can’t wait to delve even deeper!
YES!! Instead of getting on the computer, worrying, whatever……I need to set the time for God.
Thank you, Thank you Renee….what a true Blessing you are!!! After reading Day 3’s message, I just had an AHA moment and think it’s God’s voice talking to me. This is the first time that I’ve actually felt a peace and felt confident that he is telling me that I need to have daily dependence, interaction, and intimacy with Him. The verse “The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!’ Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” ” 1 Samuel 3:10 was read at during church service on Sunday, and I came across it again on your Proverbs 31 website, and have prayed about spending more time with Him and getting into His word. I’m so guilty of turning to him for the Big ‘things’ but not turning to him for the day to day ‘things.’ ‘God is Good, All the Time! All the time, God is Good!’
Thanks you!
~Shannon
Love that my friend forward this all to me. I lost my job so of course am down over not having a job. So I pray this study will lift my thoughts. Help me, encourage me to find a job and get me more focused on what God wants for my life. I have not been attending church so this will help get me back on the right track. Also life at home is not “easy” since all the kids left for school
I love reading scripture and than praying the words in that scripture for myself or my family or for others. It really starts to hit my heart in a tender spot. One time I was desperately in need of praying for a group of people and I got out my book of topics of scriptures and started praying the scriptures. I felt like the Lord led me to the scriptures under the headline called ‘Help” and yes, I definitely received the help from the Lord that I desperately needed. Here is the scripture verse I felt that the Lord led me to — Psalm 94:17 – 19 “Unless the Lord had been my help, I would soon have dwelt in silence. When I said, My foot is slipping, Your mercy and loving kindness, O Lord, held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul. ” (amplified Bible). I am very happy for the Lord’s comfort and His ability to lift me up when I really needed it. I found so much comfort in that time of prayer that I did not want to leave, I felt so loved and comforted by the Lord. Thankful for His presence, and wishing you all to have that same comfort at different times when you commune with Him.
I have found that the more I seek the Lord and obey Him the easier I hear His voice. When I get stubborn or am disobedient I feel the distance. I wouldn’t trade the relationship I have with my Lord. He guides me in every area of my life. One of the cool things is when I make a decision to do something without praying and see how God has been leading me without me knowing it. As I put Him first He leads me in my every day life and activities. He is constantly speaking to me and I can say He is my best friend.
Wow, that is awesome !
Sometimes it is hard to let go if He closes a door. just want to hang on to old places to minister and not to move on up to do something more and new. I have got to learn that He will only lead me to better things.