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 long to hear His voice! I have a calling that I think He has laid on my heart and I keep questioning it. Trying to figure out how or why He would want me to do something such as this? Always asking does He really want me to do this????
Thanks for what you do and it was good to see you in Memphis last week!
I am enjoying this study so much. I took the list of promises and personalized it as suggested by inserting my name. Then, I did one for my mom, my sister and both my children and my son’s girlfriend. I love that we can read these promises with OUR name on them. I am working on hearing God’s voice and trying to become a sheep that KNOWS my master’s voice.
Spend more alone time in His word and waiting on Him to speak to me.
In order to hear God’s voice, I need to be quiet. That sounds simple enough, but it’s hard to put into practice. My church is doing a 21-day fast starting Saturday, and I’m fasting facebook, TV, and sweets. I’m hoping to hear His voice when I have more time to devote to listening.
Each morning I start my day with a small devotion and a journal, and I share my thoughts and seek God for direction and wisdom, but I don’t usually stop and wait and be quiet so He can speak to me. I’m working on being still and waiting for Him.
I tell my 12 year old daughter that when a thought or idea keeps coming to her and she keeps pushing it away (but it always comes back) that is the Holy Spirit guiding her. She needs to stop what she is doing and LISTEN. So, I guess the best thing I can do for me is to take my own advice! I spend time with God every day, either by reading, listening to Christian music or praying, but I don’t take enough time to LISTEN! I hope that while building my confidence to not only believe in Him but to BELIEVE HIM I will learn how to really listen to God and follow his lead confidently and obediently!
To be Familiar with God, I am reading the Bible and trying to relate to the scriptures that I have been place in front of me. I am really struggling with hearing his word but I feel that I’m just missing it. You mention themes and I keep on saying why am I hearing the word from the Preacher, from scripture and from devotions that I am reading. I am convince it’s all God.
Thanks for your devotions you are truly helping and blessing people. 🙂
I have found that I too have had trouble discerning God’s voice from my own. I love the simplification that “it wasn’t my voice”, it wasn’t what you wanted. I have also found that when I am in His word more, I can find links that I may have missed before. I am also doing a companion devotional with Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling along with Jesus Lives. I do not always read each day with each devotional; however, when I do open Jesus Lives, it has every relevance to the daily devotional regardless of which day. That is significant. HIs word is always relevant, but at times it is hard to make the connections. That is what I hope to learn (among many other things) during this study.
You know over the past week, I have been asked by three different people how I hear God, and how I know it is Him. This is something I struggle with too. So, I decided to really spend some time meditating over this. So, I prayed, and here is my findings:
Last night, I was looking for a book I had been reading. As I was looking for this book, I found book after book on “hearing God.” I believ…e I counted 23 before I was done. As, I stood there looking at this pile of books, I realized something profound.
I have read most of these books and plan to read them all. But, I can read every one of those books over and over again. They will teach me ways to hear God, but just because I read the book does not mean I will all the sudden just start hearing God’s voice. It’s quite simple really. If we want to hear God’s voice, we have to spend time in His presence learning to hear His voice.
It’s like this, I talk to my friend Doodles everyday or at least every other day. When I pick up the phone and hear her voice, I immediately know who it is. I recognize it because I have known her for almost 20 years. I hear it all the time. I have another friend that I don’t talk to very often, I don’t see often, but we are still friends. When she calls, I don’t always recognize her voice. It’s because I don’t hear it all the time.
If I don’t spend time focusing on God, and hearing His voice and recognizing it, then I may be hearing Him without recognizing it. I used to expect this audible, holy, and strong voice when I would wait to hear from God. Just like my one friend has a very specific voice and tone, my other friend has a very specific voice and tone. Since I hear Doodles voice everyday, I 99% of the time recognize it without hesitation. Since I don’t hear my other friends voice that often, I rarely recognize her voice.
So, how do I hear God’s voice. Well, it’s when I spend more and more time quietly in His presence and in His Word (He speaks through His Word to us as well). I am still working hearing Him at will, but I do hear His voice. I just need to make sure I spend time talking to Him as much as I do my friend Doodles, that way even when I am busy or I just need a right then Word, I can automatically recognize it in the same way I recognize my friends voice.
Funny thing, I got all this wonderful revelation last night, I came in this morning and opened my email to find a devotional titled: “Listening to God’s Voice.” You think God might be trying to tell me something? I think it’s quite obvious. Me thinks, He is asking me on a date to come sit at His feet, drink from the cup in His had, lay back against Him, and breathe. He wants me to simply seek Him. I bet He has something great to tell me. Ya think?
Sorry for the length, but I guess this is a little repentance for me as well.
I do notice when I’m in the word more & I feel little promptings to serve someone in a specific way or do something in particular- when I think about the scriptures I’ve read or have been reading, I’m pretty sure I can know God is the one doing the prompting:)
I lean on God’s Word to help me discern if it’s the nudging of the Holy Spirit or my flesh or the enemy speaking to me. I know what I want to do (flesh). I also know the enemy is a liar and wants to take me down. So, when I am hearing, feeling, or thinking something that makes me sad or makes me feel unworthy, uncapable, or mean and negative, I know that is not from God. So, when I am nudged to fix my husband breakfast when I am mad at him and would rather jab him with “no breakfast” – I make him breakfast!! That just happened this morning, too!! I didn’t want to do it, but I knew that not doing is is fostering anger and resentment in my heart and marriage – that is not what God wants. He want my heart to be humble, forgiving, and loving. It takes some practice, but God blesses me over and over and it gets easier and easier to know when it is Him talking and loving on me!! Have a great day!
I have been writing scriptures on notecards for several years now. It gives me a quick way to to remind myself of His promises. I started this week writing a scripture at the top of the page in my spiral notebook, (my version of a day planner) so that as I look at the tasks for the day I can read it several times throughout the day. Today I wrote, “The Lord will work out His plans for my life – for Your faithful love, o Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for You made me.” Psalm 138:8 Have a great day everyone!
Thank you so much for your suggestion Kim. Writing scriptures on notecards is a great idea and when I thought about doing that, I decided that writing them in a small notebook that I could carry in my purse or pocket would be best for me. (I’m pretty sure I would lose the notecards) Yesterday I was trying to recall Romans 8:28 which is a verse that I memorized decades ago & has been a comfort to me through really tough times. Unfortunately I am losing my memory and when I couldn’t remember this verse, I burst into tears. It was frustrating and scarey to think that I won’t always be able to bring verses to mind when I need them. I think a small notebook will really help. That way I only have to keep track of one thing. I am also praying that I will be able to feel God’s presence when I need to remember his promises and can’t because I do know that he will use my situation for good. Bless you!
What helped me a lot was prayer, as well as christian music. Music has always moved me. Once I found out how to use the the blue-tooth on my phone I put the songs on it, and then God led me to download the N.I.V. AUDIO BIBLE. I put it on my phone, I started with the New Testament and it really brought the bible to life for me. Actually listening to the words of Christ as well as God made a huge impact for me.
I put my headphones on plug it into my phone and listen whenever I can. I listen to the music when I workout, in my car etc. The bible I usually listen to at night before bed.
I have also signed up for the daily bible reading on the website biblegateway.com, I have emails everyday with chapters of the bible as well as daily devotionals and encouragement. In fact that is how I found you Renee, and your book. I also have my fathers bible that I read.
The more I listen and read the more I believe in what The Lord is saying and I believe it is meant for me as much as everyone else. Now I can calm my thoughts and pay attention to what God is saying to me, what is meant for me and my life. Thanks again Renee for writing this book, your words and encouragement paved the way for me to have a life dedicated to Christ and the word of God. A year ago my life was a complete wreck, 4 months ago I asked my local library if they could get a copy of your book. My future has never looked this bright EVER. Keep writing and sharing. 🙂
How do you upload a photo to the box? I love the quilt patterns, but wondered how some people have uploaded a photo.
“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?”
This is exactly where I am today. I am sitting in a coffee shop window about to embark on a new career. Exciting, yes; Apprehensive, yes! In Ester “For such a time as this” comes to mind. I have been trained my entire life for this moment. “Motherhood is not for the faint at heart”. That doesn’t finish when they start to move out, go to college and especially not high school. I home schooled for the last 14 1/2 years and now my son has been put in high school, all three girls are in college and I am beginning a new career. I am so thankful for the community of “Confident Heart”. I needed a Bible Study, but couldn’t find one to fit into my schedule. I am so thankful to know there are ladies lifting me up in pray all of the USA today.
Shalom.
I need to read God’s Word more consistently and then sit and listen. I need to trust that I am worthy to be used for His purpose on a daily basis.
Wow! Your words are the same as my prayer for myself. I have such a hard time stopping to listen.
I get distracted easily, especially by the negative thoughts I have carried for many years. There are times that I feel too insignificant to approach God. As I have read many posts I believe God has shown me that I am not alone in my journey to become not only a confident woman, but a person who is worthy of His love. So many of us share the same struggles as we walk through our lives. I am looking forward to digging into God’s word as I complete this study.
I am so grateful to have found this website. One of my goals in 2012 is to really learn to discern God’s voice and to obey him. One way I do this is when thinking negative thoughts, I recite to myself “to take every thought and make it captive to Christ”, and then ask God what he wants to to replace that thought with, what is His truth?
I know that I have vividly heard God’s voice in the past. Sometimes I wonder how I fall away from that so easily. It’s a day to day struggle, but I am believing that God will work with me in my humanness. I love reading and hearing about so many others who face the same struggles just because it makes me feel as if I am never alone and NORMAL! 🙂 I also recognize that being patient and quiet in the business of life is important so that I don’t miss the quiet whispers. Determined to grow….persevere….to discover all that God has for us in this life! 🙂
I need to be PATIENT and QUIET and listen for his voice.
God is so faithful! I have a real problem with self doubt! I’m very excited about reading a confident heart! I know he has led me to your site and the study. I struggle with listening too then I second guess myself and don’t feel I can accomplish what I’m called to do. I know that is the devils way of keeping me still when I need to move. I am trusting God as I proceed with this study. I watched a DVD called the encounter and it was very helpful in seeing how God does work around and among us. I am looking forward to seeing the DVD on the book of John. Thank you for your ministry and Gid bless you!!
God speaks to me a lot of times thru the Daily Devotions I receive or thru a songs lyrics. I will pray and turn the matter over to Him and then try to wait to see what His answer is – I don’t necessarily always like His answer – God & I have had numerous disagreements – but He always wins out!
I love that you say you have disagreements…..it’s obvious that it is a relationship with God that you have. 🙂