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!
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I feel that I can continue to read His word that I may know Him and if I truly know Him, I will hear and know His voice.
Thank you so much for this teaching on how to hear the voice of God, one of the ways i know He is speaking to me is i will run across the same scripture several times and it always speaks to my heart or a situation i am dealing with. God is so good, if He doesn’t get through the first time He stays with us until we get it. His grace is sufficient for me.
anonomous,
Haven’t seen you. Still praying.
My walk with God is so much richer when I spend time just listening to God. When I take time to just be quiet and ask the Lord for a word or ask a question and WAIT for an answer, not just go on to the next question, request or item on my to do list. I have had beautiful experiences in that time.
The harder part is developing the discipline to actually do it. To prioritize that time within my day. It seems like He gets pushed aside for the chores, or sleep or any number of other things. I am making a commitment to spend some quiet time with God every day, even if it is 5 minutes. I know that God will treasure those 5 minutes with me just as much as he would treasure 60.
One thing that helps me to listen to God is to “Be Still and know that He is God”, however, it’s hard for me to “be still”. I’m an anxious person, so living in the here and now is challenging. I’m trying to focus on Him more each day and listen for his voice.
When I was 13 I lost three people very close to my heart within 6 months of each other. 1st was my mom in Aug. 83, 2nd was my great-grandmother in Oct. 83, and then Feb. 84 my grandmother. I was very miserable. My grandfather taught me right after my 14th birthday “Be still and know that He is God.” It is also challenging for me, but when I feel like I need to be still and listen to what God says I am in Him, I have peace. I am so glad that my grandfather taught me that Bible verse on that day and I still go back to it time and time again.
I have been struggling with a confident heart in God almost my whole entire life due to circumstances that happened in my childhood. This past year has been the hardest. Last Feb. I started dialysis and I have dreaded going. I finished reading and answering the questions last night and I have come to realize that I have wondered what have I done so wrong to deserve being put on dialysis. Many times I have felt that my life isn’t going to get better. But I know that is a lie and God wants me to know the truth. He loves me and is with me always. The Bible verse that spoke to me this week the most is Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” God isn’t punishing me for the need of dialysis. He wants me to put my whole trust in Him! That includes telling others His love for us. Dialysis is my mission right now. Renee, this devotion really spoke to me. I too have wanted a sneak peek into God’s calendar. I also want to live each day in the hear and now. I have always believed in God, now it is time for me to believe Him.
Amen, Kimberly! I love how you said Dialysis is now your mission. Think of all those people you can reach as you sit there. Or think of the meditation time with the Father you will have at that time. God is with you, sister, wherever you go. Never doubt that. Praying for you!!
Since beginning this study, I can already recognize God’s voice more clearly than before. At 22, I’m still not the woman I want to be. I’ve leave doubt and insecurity cloud my emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. By meditating on the Word, and being still and listening, I know that I will find that His words come through much more clearly. Like a relationship with any person, you must spend time learning, and listening to what God has to tell us to further that relationship.
Thank you for your heart and your encouragement, ever since I have joined the e-mail list and this study through Proverbs 31, I feel more joy in my heart and my heart is being softened to the things God has in store for me. You’re a blessing.
22!!! What a blessing you are! I wonder if we will ever be the women we want to be–here on earth. We strive, Katelyn and keep pressing in closer to the Father. And through this study, you will. Oh, what a joy to see a young sister reaching out to the Father for confidence. Blessings to you!
Headlights!
Yes, that’s right, I hear God’s voice better when the headlights are on. We live in the country, back off of the highway. When I manage to drag myself out of bed really early, before anyone else at home is up, I am rewarded. I make a cup of hot tea. Then, I sit in the living room, in the dark, and I watch the headlights of all those people driving by. I’m fascinated with thoughts of where these early birds may be going and where they may have come from. Somewhere in the midst of those quiet thoughts, God begins to speak. These are the moments I can really hear Him.
I love that, Kristine! Now you’ve got me thinking of headlights as eyes and the bumper as a smile.LOL God just brightening the day.
God let’s us know he’s talking in so many ways, thru the sky, thru your heart, thru his word. The key is recoginizing that is it God. WE can easily shut him out, but if we stay connected to God, thru prayer, thru his work, or just talking to him, he answers us.
I believe we must be still in order to hear him. When we rust around in this fast paced word, it’s hard to heard him. I believe he will speak to us, maybe loudly, if we don’t slow down. Have you tried taking your coffee at dawn and just watching the day wake, he will whisper to you softly.,
This is the year that scripture seems to be my focus, it seems that we can recognize lots of scripture but
are we really meditating on memorizing. I am slowly working on making scripture more of a meditation, somedays are lot easier than others.
I think one thing that God is really trying to teach me in this season, is to not only be more patient.. but not to worry when he has revealed his plan for me. Often times, I focus on what I NEED to do to get it done that I actually go about screwing everything up! Its hard to let go sometimes, and relinquish control. But I have learned recently that this sense of “control” I have is a false sense of control… because God is in control! I have also learned that just because God shows you a vision for you life, doesnt mean the journey is going to be easy. I have never been one that likes change. Actually I hated it, but I have experienced so much change in the last 2 years that I know God is trying to help develop me for the better. To trust him in every turn and to know that even though things may look grim or a certain way now, that it doesnt mean that the vision and revelation he has shown me will not come to pass. So I hope to become more confident in him and his word, to depend on more like never before. To be able to meditate and get the message he wants for me beneath the surface words Im reading and apply it to my life. To slow down among by busy day and to have that balance. Just how I can say no to others, to say no and make time for him no matter what! I want to grow to be who he has called me to be. A confident woman of God , who is independent but God dependent in the same light.
And I also want to be able to differentiate if its him taking to me, or just my emotions, cause sometimes I act off emotions which isnt the best option at all, and makes it worse. I want to step back, pause and listen when he directs me. I want to be able to hear his voice better and more esp as it relates to all aspects of me, including the direction and purpose for my life.
I am an older christian woman and it amazes me how many times I ask God the same questions. What do you want me to do Lord?, Where do you want me to go? I travel along in my daily life and talk to God, deal with my kids, (I am a widow) go to work etc etc and when I sit and talk to God at the end of the day, we look back over the day and God shows me the people he has bought to me, the decisions we have made the mistakes I have made and the highs and lows of each day. The next morning I ask God the same questions: What do you want me to do today?, where to go? Being obedient to him, daily is one of the hardest things I do, but when, together we look back over the day he shows that he even gives me the strength and the ability to do that. Thank you Jesus for being my Lord!
I thank all of you for your honesty and truth…It is safe here and that is something I need…my trust in God is strong and i feel i hear Him slowly after my mental breakdown over the last months…I know I have to start over sort of because the way I was doing things in the past year have not worked or it would not have happened. I do believe God speaks in so many ways and my eyes and ears are so much more open now. I have trust issues with myself so I have to be ever so careful it’s not something i am hearing because Peggy wants it to be…Thank you all for your love and support…
You are right, this is a safe place and I am glad you came. I had my breakdown on 2/15/08. I remember it so well, because I use it as a password for one of my emails. 215NLIC.. NLIC = New life in Christ. I was doing all the right things for everyone, but me. I found out that day in the hospital that if I wasn’t taking care of me, I was not doing all the right things for everyone. I did not have to prove anything to God, He just wants us to be still and know that He is God.
Thank you for being honest and I will be praying for you and “thank you for your honesty and truth”
Shalom.
Thank you my friend…God bless!!
God is good.
I am making a commitment to spend specific time in God’s Word each and every day. The time to do this will be easy to find as I trust God to pull me out of the depression I have been in and have the confidence to merely face each day. I know that I have been led to this study so that I can be alive again. I had prayed so long for my marriage and knew that God wanted me there, that when my husband of nearly 30 years left me 3 years ago and then divorced me last May, I literally felt abandoned and rejected on every level. My confidence in everything disappeared completely. I am praying that I can internalize everything I learn while in this study.
I do believe that this is God calling me back to Him.
I hear him often speaking to me. It’s that little voice inside my head. The one I know I should be listening to, but sometimes ignore. It’s when I ask myself a question, and a word or phrase pops into my head. I need to learn to trust that what I’m hearing is the truth. I just need to learn to walk more in my truth. Listen to that inner voice. The one that leads me to the right path.
There is no way that this is happenstance. As I grow and learn about who our Lord is, I am aware of His leading, even in the ‘little’ promptings and encouragements. In His love, He meets each of us where we are at in our lives. I am ever so grateful for this! I am in tears, even as I type this, tears of release, and of the hope of ‘being made new’.
My biggest obstacle I face, is when I know God has laid something on my heart, something he’s called me to I always result to “I’ll Pray About It.” I know in the pit of my stomach and the constant nudging of the Holy Spirit, that I shouldn’t have to pray about it…He’s already spoke! The only thing I should be praying about is the who, what, when and where guidance on what’s he’s already told me to do. So with a this bible study, I’m going to pray not only to build my self esteem about myself but also trusting God in what he is telling me to do and being more Confident and couragous with my life assignments in glorifying Jesus and his Kingdom. I thank God for this being my 1st study of 2012 and for each of you here posting and sharing and praying for one another.
The whisper I have been hearing in my ear since Christmas Eve is “Be still, and know that I am God”. Be still. And I am so NOT! Ps. 46:10 is now my verse for this year. I need to make a conscious effort to block out some of the noise and find or make the time to spend time ALONE with the Lord. This study is a great start. The questions at the end of the first chapter are really difficult for me, reminding me of events or circumstances I’d rather not think about. But I’m already seeing how those things have affected me in my adult life. This study is such a blessing already. And how wonderful to know that there are 8000 of us studying and praying together! AWESOME!
Listening for God’s voice was so hard for me! I felt led to join a Bible study at church and one of the first assignment when I was really struggling with this was to sit perfectly still, while you were all alone and let the Spirit of God wash over you. I just happened to be home alone at the time, which was very rare and decided to try. I can not encourage everyone to just do this! Sit with your eyes closed and just focus on the Spirit of the Lord! The feeling that comes over you are unreal! You feel so close to the Lord and just so refreshed and I can not even think of more words to describe how this was. Ever since then I have felt such a closeness with God I know when He is speaking to my heart!
Being quiet is so key to hearing God’s voice. I have had TAWGs (Time Alone with God) and DAWGs (Day Alone with God) many times. Spending concentrated time in quiet, meditating on who God is, writing in my journal is one way I know I’ll hear Gods’ voice. Sometimes it’s hard to make this time, but it is always so well worth it.