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.)
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.
Renee, thank you! I just prayed this morning on my way to work that God teach me how to listen to how I can best serve him, in life, as a wife and in my career. I too have trouble knowing whether or not the things I hear in my head are just my own thoughts or whether it is God’s direction/guidance. I would love to win the “Listening to God” gift pack so I could watch the video you recommended and hopefully have a similar experience to you and hear God whispering to me. Thank you for continuing to inspire and encourage us everyday!
Thanks for sharing! Interestingly, I’ve been asking for the gift of discernment. I know I hear God but I usually lack the confidence to go with what He’s saying because I tend to turn to others because they are ‘adults’ in the Lord and sometimes what they tell me is more comfortable than what Daddy told me.
What I intend to do now is stop doubting and follow your guide to discern Daddy’s voice for He’ll NEVER lead me astray!
Wow…..God speaks through people too!!!! I’ve been lost; battling with what to do, career-wise, after my specialist informed me I won’t be returning to my job in the classroom. After twenty years teaching, I’m lost! I’ve been asking God to show me the way…..to tell me where he wants me to put my energy,asking if this is Him telling me it’s time to move in another direction, one more in line with His path……and I’ve been getting very frustrated. I’ve just listened to God speak through you…..thank you thank you thank you Lord Jesus…….time to ‘listen’ differently!!!!
Bless you and thank you
One thing I could do to become more familiar with God’s voice is to spend more alone time with Him. I’m a wife of a youth pastor, mother of four, a Liberty U online student and am also on a women’s ministry team. Even as of today, I am seeking God for a very specific answer regarding the ministry team. With all that I do, I find myself distracted by all the business and sometimes want to just STOP and REST in and with HIM. I covet your prayers and His leading!
For me to hear God’s voice I have to withdraw to my private sanctuary-my desk in a guest bedroom every morning at 6 AM, get very quiet before him and then pray. I see in my mind’s eye Jesus seated on the mount with His disciples at His feet listening to Him. I am one of them. I am amazed the Savior of the entire world would become my private teacher. I read the same passage of Scripture all week and each day Jesus tells me/teaches me something different. So often, it relates to what is going on in my life at that moment. I am blown away! I hear Jesus! It is then up to me to listen and obey Him.
I need to obey when I hear. I fnd there are times when I know God is speaking to me, but because I find it difficult to follow, I turn a deaf ear and wonder is this really God, when I know it is. Thank you for your insights and reminders of the things that we try to ignore, because it is easier to do it our way rather than God’s way.
for me, starting this online bible study is the first step in learning to hear God voice. I so often get wrapped up in the negative voices in my head and around me I do see what God has planned for me. I hope that by committing to the bible study and spending more time in God’s word I will learn to hear hhis voice above all others!
There are times when I know God is telling me to do something, even if it’s as small as picking up that plastic bag that’s blowing across the parking lot, and I do it. But I sometimes feel like the son in Matthew 21 who said he wouldn’t work in the vineyard and then did it anyway. God speaks to me clearly and I tell Him “I don’t wanna.” After some arguing, I usually do it, but grumble about it. “Okay, God, I’ll do it, but don’t expect me to enjoy it.” Part of me just sits back and laughs at my stubbornness. The times I know what to do and refuse to do the task are becoming more infrequent, but they still occur. I eventually get past my stubbornness, feel sorry, and then ask for forgiveness. Hearing God’s voice has become a process, and learning to obey also takes time.
I spend time every morning reading God’s words and in prayer but my prayer time is always of me talking and I don’t stop and listen. I need to grow closer to God by listening to him, not just asking. I have been living selfish in presenting my needs and wants to God but never listening to what he wants from me or needs me to do for him. Learning to trust God more is another thing I keep hearing God telling me to do, letting my defenses down and letting God work instead of me. Being faithful to him.
Hi Missy, I have the same issues. I can and do talk to God a lot throughout the day. I feel as though He is constantly with me and He is my friend, but I end up doing all of the talking, when true friends need to listen as well. I really need to learn to sit back and listen and be more observant in my current surroundings. When I catch myself talking or asking without a break (I don’t like silence and I am quite a chatterbox to begin with:) I take a deep breath and try to clear my mind. I have recently moved to another country and have not met a lot of people and I think right now in my life this was part of God’s plan for me to become closer to Him. I have a lot of free time and find myself reading the Bible or just having a one-way conversation with God. I am going to try harder to listen to God and find out my true purpose in this new country:)
One thing I have found that helps me to listen for God’s voice is using my prayer beads. They still my swirling mind and bring me to a quiet place to watch for consistencies in God’s plan for my life.
It is both inspiring and sad to realize that so many of us have the same problem of not being able to discern God’s voice from our own or just “noise”. I am in the process of learning that no matter what excuse I can come up with, I have to spend time with God not just daily but often each day. This does not always mean in my chair, by myself, in the quiet etc. It is that but also, hiding in the bathroom for a few minutes of prayer, stopping whatever I am doing and praying right there, sometimes even outloud, telling the kiddos I need to pray or we need to pray etc. For me, I have found that on my knees is when I seem to hear God best. I often need God to show me in conformation of threes that it is His will. He has always been faithful to this but I must be faithful in seeking him for it.
If I stay in God’s Word every day I’m sure to know when it’s Him speaking to me.
..over the years in walking with Jesus…this IS a KEY point..everyday in HIS WORD..a short time, or long time..my just ‘getting’ His word, daily…may it be in one ‘word’ only…one verse…even a verse in a song…I have to grab it..and take it in…and when I ‘rush by’ Him..during the day…ohhhh, the strain, stress that attaches to my soul!..thank you Jennifer for your good words….it is a ‘daily walk’….and the best thing to recall always…HE UNDERSTANDS and loves us all….and only wants to give us, His love…amazing.
I have come to realize that I don’t spend as much time with God as I should. So naturally I won’t recognize God’s voice that well. I have started to plan quiet times with God because I have found out that if I left it up to chance it will not happen. I find that quieting everything around me helps me to be in tune with God. I have learned that often we want God to be in the fire or earthquake but really he is in the quiet whisper that we have to be quiet to hear.
Hi just want to thank you for your site and daily devotions,I look forward everyday to start my day with Jesus Christ,I’m glad I signed up for this also keep it up g/f your such a beautiful blessing to me for sure,Love and Blessings,
I hate to admit it, but I neglect my husband after I come home from work. I have a very stressful job and just want to be quiet and read. He, on the other hand, recently retired and is ready for my company. I put my wishes above his so often. He is such a precious man, God truly blessed me with him. We’ve been married 30 yrs, and it’s so easy to settle in a selfish routine. I KNEW God had been telling me to do better, but today I commit to paying more attention to my husband.
This is a topic I have struggled with . I always second guess my thoughts, and think it must be my own imagination speaking . I want so much to really know my Masters voice and hear Him above all the loud voices of the world screaming at me .
When we second guess God’s voice, we have the Bible to help us and hopefully good Christian friends to call. Sometimes even when those things don’t blot out all of my uncertainty I lift up this prayer, “God, I believe you want me to do ____________. I’m feeling ______________. Please protect me and keep me in your will.” Then, I simply let go and allow God to do the driving. Knowing that He is a good God who is worthy of our trust reminds me that when we ask for wisdom/discernment/protection— He gives it.
When I am driving long distance from a job I know that God is talking with me, I too need to stop and listen to what he is saying so I could stay our of trouble with myself. I know that he is with at all time and we have this great conversation but I truly need to listen more clearly and have that open heart to accept what he has in store for me.
I know that it would take forever to read all the posts, but it is so wonderful to know how many of us are on the journey to have “A Confident Heart”. We are thankful to you, Renee, for inviting us on this journey with you, for sharing what you have learned, and for the opportunity to learn from and love one another! That is one way we can learn to discern the voice of God…surround ourselves with Godly counsel, voices of accountability and love, and hear God, not only in your secret places, but in those places with your most trusted companions.
The first thing I thought when I read this question is “Great, one more thing to do.” Then I thought “And I probably won’t do it well, either.” I guess I’m in the right place! Reading aloud really helped in our book study yesterday. Hearing the prayer in Chapter 1 out loud was very powerful. So I think reading aloud and also listening. Just listening for and to Him.
I need to be still and listen what God’s is saying about every thing in my life because it’s his will that I want for and in my life.I need less of me and more of him! so that is one of the things that I can do to become more familiar with God’s voice.
It so blesses my heart to read the posts from all my fellow sisters in Christ and know that I am not alone when I feel inadequate and unsure. I am going to pray that God will speak to me and that I will have the discernment to KNOW it is His voice and not mine. I want to entrust each day to His will for my life. I am praying for each and every one of you!
Thank you so much for your thoughts on this. I desperately want to live in the hear and now, but like you I often wonder if what I’m hearing is God’s voice or my own thoughts….so when I got your devotional in my email this morning at 10:30 I very much enjoyed reading it as I could easily relate to it. THEN when I got it in my email AGAIN this afternoon at about 1:40 pm I simply had to stop, read it again and personally reflect. It was obvious that God wanted tomake sure that I didn’t overlook it and really understood what I was reading. One thing I can do is to recognize that things such as this come directly from God. Lord, may I ever be aware of Your daily/minute-by-minute will for my life.
AMEN!!
I am new to learning how to study the Bible and struggle to discern how to listen to God’s voice and know that he is speaking to me and that I am not just hearing my own thoughts and ideas. I found the Proverbs 31 ministries site recently while trying to learn MORE about God. Renee, this was a very timely blog to discover, and I am so amazed at God’s timing.
One thing that I have discovered to help me devote time and listening to God is to fast. I am currently on day 15 of a 21 day Daniel Fast, and am trying to spend more of my time reading God ‘s Word. After this three weeks, I plan to fast at least one meal once a week so that I can continue to set aside time for listening.
I have struggled with listening to God for as long as I can remember. So many times I have put my will in the place of His and have only had heartache, stress and the frustration of being totally overwhelmed with life. As my husband and I are working to get on the other side of a very hurtful time in our marriage, we have realized that our time together had dwindled down to a few minutes a week. No relationship can thrive and become stronger with so little time spent together especially a relationship with God. Over the past several years I have put God on the back burner without even realizing it, I would always be busy doing something – taking care of our children, managing our home as my husband was in medical school and residency, serving others in our church, running from the grief of 2 miscarriages that I had completely left God behind. Not only was I not listening to God I wasn’t even within earshot. My daily goal is to begin my day talking with and listening to God, before I even get out of bed and ending my day with Him as well. I have found myself stopping in the middle of a stressful moment with my children, taking a deep breath and listening to God as he helps me remain calm and speak to them with love. The peace I am finding is like nothing I have ever felt and to think it’s been within reach all along, I just have to stop and listen!
God led me to your website at a time I was feeling alone and useless and what a blessing you have been! It seems that God has given you an insight to my heart and you minister to me each day. I hope you realize how much God uses you each and every day to minister to women that wouldn’t seek help anywhere else. My walk with the Lord is strengthened each day thanks to your encouragement and urging to see myself through His eyes. I did the study of your book with Melissa Taylor but felt it was well worth reading and studying again! God bless you and thank you for your daily posts.
One ot the things that God is having me do is getting rid of the clutter of my day so that I can focus on Him and His word. Part of that focus is the bible study on “A Confident Heart”. He is calling me to slow down and sit at His feet as he wants to mold me and make me into His image so that He can use me for His purpose.To not be conformed by the business of the world around me. I am acutually stepping down from leading a bible study to allow God to bring healing to a broken vessel that is empty. That has been beaten down with lies and discouragement from childhood that is affecting my everyday life and in order for that healing I need to stop and listen to what God says about who I am in Him and what His promises are that are in His word. I can’t hear it unless I stop and be still in Him.
Hi Renee, thank you for sharing your devotional today…very encouraging for my spirit to ponder on.
I often hear the Holy Spirit share things but forget to stop and really listen to what is being said, encouraging or asking me to do. Often times those words get lost in and amongst the rest of what comes my way that day and then I end up missing out. So, for me, it’s in my time with the Lord (making sure I have my time) that I can take those quiet whispers and actually hear what He is saying to me and I write otherwise I forget. At Christmas I received a one-yr chronological bible which is bringing a new excitement to my time in God’s Word. I also ask for direction from the Lord in the big decisions, but it’s remembering to ask, listen, & hear for His guidance in our everyday moments – thank you for that reminder. I have a friend who asks for 3 confirmations from the Lord, before doing something she feels she’s being lead to do. She always receives those confirmations – it’s this ‘thing’ between her & the Lord.
Blessings on your day!
Renee,
Thank you so much for these blogs and post!! I love the way you so simply put things. I have an “aah ha” moment…. 🙂 I get so much understanding from reading your daily blogs!! Thank You!!
I have a real problem with silence (how I wish I didn’t )…too many thoughts flying around. But when I first read Renee’s book when it was released and she suggested reading scripture aloud, it REALLY helped me to focus and HEAR. Thanks for the life-changing tip; it’s now my daily habit!
i could listen to God more if I took notice of those littel taps that He gives me. To be more open and hear and feel them and acknopwledge them when they do come while reading the Bible, working or just doing house work. Thanks, Renee, this is a great study.