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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!
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Being still and knowing God is God, to me is just powerful…… We have to be still and listen to the inner peace God gives us when He is trying to tell us something or what decision needs to be made in our lives. Over the last year “my way” of hearing God has been through journaling!!! I just write….. what i am thinking, prayers to God, questions, just what ever hits my mind at the time!!!! My journals sometimes looks like the writings of a lunatic …… But the more i write the more i start feeling God telling me things…. BUT one of my favorite parts of journaling is going back and reading previous dates….. a year back or 6 months or even 2 weeks back….. I see how God has answered prayers or gave me peaceful feelings about things that was troubling or just needing some direction!! Being still, taking that quiet time of talking to a “friend” and journaling is for me the way God has taught me to HEAR Him and I praise Him for that!!!! 🙂
The less we obey, the less we hear. I learned that I need to have full confidence in the Lord, and listen.
Amen!!!
Hi Renee!
The one thing I can do to become more familiar with God’s voice is to not second guess myself when I believe I have heard from Him. When I second guess myself I become confused – I think was that from God or was that my own thoughts. Usually, He speaks to me in short, direct statements in His Word or in my mind. When God speaks to me there is no doubt. So, if I want to know what God is telling me, I need to trace back to the last time when I knew for certain He was speaking and proceed from there.
Karen C.
For me living in the here and now is hard I’m a planner and have to make myself be still to hear God. I really want to do that this year.
Thank you for this message today. I struggle with talking at God and not Listening very well for Him to talk to me. I also struggle to be a good listener in general. I am in a church family that is on a journey towards listening more fully to God and I want to be part of that. I want to be fully in God’s will and recieving what He has perfectly planned for me. So your message speaks to that and our sermons at church have also been speaking to that. I want to be in the “hear and now.”
I love this line..
“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.”
So very true! I too relate with your story of Matthew 25- I look at my everyday life as a wife and mother and see the tasks as so normal….not close to extraordinary. That is so not true. God wants every part of me. I need to just stop myself consistently all day long during the “ordinary” and see him in it and the blessing that he’s called me to- folding laundry, feeding my baby, making supper, etc. To stop and let him fill me with himself even in these things.
Great post Renee.
The one and major thing for me is to “Be still”. I have a great tendency to “be busy”. Many times I will be still and when I think I hear the prompting from God I get busy just to find out that it wasn’t God at all but me. Growing up and having ADD it is hard for me to “Be still”….but spending time in his word allows me to be/get closer to God and therefore his voice is more recognizable to me.
One thing I can do to to become more familiar with God’s voice is to spend more time reading his Word. I am very good at listening to Christian music and reading devotionals, but I am less apt to simply open my Bible and read his Word. I tend to forget that the Bible is full of truths and promises that I need to live my life!
Wow, this is the challenge that I keep hearing God speak to me as well. It is major in our church right now… reading THE BIBLE instead of solely devotionals. Thank you for letting God speak these words through you, I personally needed to hear them.
I am giving up an extra hour of sleep so that I can spend time just sitting in His presence, not petitioning Him concerning my needs or wants but simply sitting at His feet and listening for His voice in the early morning. I am making certain that I am spending time with Him at an hour when there are no other distractions and as I was writing this response I am being nudged to add the worship music to my quiet time with Him.
This morning I was reading the P31 devotional and was moved to go to this site this morning. I love to meet new sisters in Christ, so Thank You Lord! It has been my prayer to start the New Year more devoted to reading God’s Word, seeking Him, trusting Him. Having seven children, the distractions are many, and ‘Being still and know that I am God’ is a deep desire, and more and more a challenge. Spending time with Him is so needed as we can not do all this as moms on our own, He is there for us! He has just been showing me the discipline I need to have for that daily ‘In the Word time’ , and so many other areas I need discipline in my life! Where I am weak, He is strong. Having a relationship with Jesus, means to spend time with, getting to know and be like Him, to find direction in our daily living and struggles by His examples. Thanks for your ministry and encouragement along the way, as we press toward the mark. Blessings to you
Wow… this could have been my exact words! I also have 7 children and my thoughts were the same after I read this post! God has been working in me the same way! Encouraging to see someone else on the same field! Have a wonderful day!!! =)
One thing I could do to become more familiar with God’s voice is that when I am in my quiet place – to listen instead of praying and talking to God and then get back to being busy. Most of the time when I pray I don’t wait to hear what God has to say to me about those things I’ve prayed about or those things that concern what He would have me to do.
Be still. I need to get away from the noise of our physical world so I can hear the still small voice of God. Your comments about the consistent theme ring true for me. Thank you, God, for not giving up on me, if I don’t hear you the first time. Thank you for gently, softly talking to me through songs, Bible study, and sermons.
I just had one of those “husband side” stories myself. I actually did put his clothes away for him. I did leave a few socks however… Now I want to kick myself for not listening to God the other day with the elderly lady loading up her trunk with groceries in the rain. The cart holder was a bit away, and I “felt” that I was supposed to help her, but instead, I packed up my things and got out of the wind and rain.. and sat there watching her instead… ugh. I need to work on this listening to God thing… the first step is admittance to the fact I ignored him, and ask for his forgivness…. I would love to win a copy of your book!
One thing that I will do to start becoming more familiar with God’s voice is to stop throwing up the walls when any kind of emotions come up. Right now I tend to shut down just as soon as I start to feel emotional & by shutting down & throwing up those walls I’m basically telling God no that i’m not willing to listen to him. I’ll also spend time with God on a consistent basis, praying & reading his word so I’m better equipped to know when it’s his voice & not my own thinking.
I am having a really hard time with this lately. I don’t know if it is God talking or just me. I don’t know if the instinct I will have with something is God leading me or just my own gut instinct. I have just over the past few months grown close to the Lord and have developed a relationship with Him. I pray daily that I hear him and not me.
Very inspiring to remind us all to Live in the “Hear and Now.”..Lately,I have had the theme of “You are not Listening” being told to me. This is Very Discerning to say the least… I Thank-You and God …for Opening up my Ears to Listen and Trust in What I am Hearing! God Bless and Thanks
I have known for quite awhile that I need to commit my time at night after my 5 kids are in bed to focus my time only on God. To keep the tv off, not make any more phone calls, wrap up my computer work/research by 10. The things I do after my kids are in bed and important, but I know nothing is more important than devoting this time to Him. I have been trying it in the mornings, and it just hasn’t been working well. I think an important part is starting this time off my asking Him to lead me to what I should focus on that night, what resource I should read, focus on etc. and make sure that my prayer time is BEFORE I get too tired and risk falling asleep 🙂 In the past I have found that when I use my time at night this way, I can focus on prayer or what I’ve read even when I have to do random things like fold that last load of laundry. Basically, I need to devote a time to spending time with Him by saying no to the other things that scream for my time
How often I too find myself looking out my kitchen window wondering the same and asking God where I am going; what is my purpose at this point in my life. Being alone isn’t really more time to do things, but takes more time. And ti screams so loud that one cannot hear God’s voice.
As for me, I need to spend more quality time with God in his word and in prayer, to slow down and listen. God is doing great things in my life, and I need to keep praying that my heart is open and ready for what He would like me to do. Sometimes, I think we are looking for the big things and we miss the small things, like straighten the closet. I pray my heart will be open and sensitive in the hear and now.
This is what I feel. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. Slowing down and listening is what I have to make sure that I do on a daily basis. I can easily crowd Him out.
Great post! His voice has gotten “louder” the more and more I obey, but I’ve begun to notice when I sin, it really seems to dull it. This has created such a desire in me to follow Him and not sin, even in things I might have talked myself into before (“oh, that’s ok…not that big of a deal!”).
(Sorry if I’m repeating anything that’s been said…I didn’t have time to read through every single comment!)
Let’s just start by saying that I have ADD…..always have. So sitting and listening, being still, and waiting has never been my strong suit. I don’t know what kind of a personal testimony that God wanted you to tell that you ran from but I can relate. I feel as though He wants me to bear all too and it scares me to death. I have been trying to get up early each morning to read His words and reflect on the coming day, sometimes it works, sometimes not. I do feel as though I act on those little proddings day by day but honestly its the much bigger things that I tend to shy away from. I pray every day for courage to be the person He wants me to be….not sure I’m succeeding. Day by day I guess. I would love to hear your words of encouragement and I know that whoever needs to hear them most will be the lucky recipient of your gift! I pray that he continues to steer you in our directions with your thoughts and words. Thank you! Lisa