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 .
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You definitely said some things that helped & confirmed some things for me but I have already start striving to spend me time with God by reading his word. I read a couple chapters every morning, I’m reading out loud (as someone else has mention). I get daily scriptures sent via e-mail & daily devotions but I think I need to study HIS Word myself. Praying that once I hear His voice, that I will be obedient to it.
Just hear recently I can remember God telling me to do something but instead of doing right then I questioned the thought, text my friends & ask their opinion. Then like a day or so later I did what God told me to do but I know I missed the blessing because I didn’t do it right then. When God speaks to us, timing is everything.
Renee,
I am knew to you website… I love the message is just what I need to learn and listen to what God
wants for me. I have been unemployed for over 3 1/2 years now and it has been tough.. Like you
I wish God would show me his plans for me this year.. Thank You for Sharing.. Have a blessed day.
Like so many others, I’ve always struggled discerning God’s voice. Living in the “hear and now” is something I will strive for as I am always looking to the future and wondering what I should be doing to get there (all the time not knowing exactly where “there” is).
Thank you for the devotional and your wonderful on-line Bible study.
When I put pen to paper… or fingers to keyboard… it seems so plain and obvious the things that I can do to become more familiar with God’s voice – read His Word, spend time quietly with Him, spend time in prayer. It’s so hard for me these days as I wear so many different hats: Wife, Mom of 2, Full-time Employee. It almost seems “simpler” to put Daughter of Christ there in at the end. However, I need to put that at the beginning – Daughter of Christ, Wife, Mom of 2, Full-time Employee. THEN will I be able to hear God more. Even if it means getting up at 4am just to have some quiet time with God and take care of my body – His temple… I’m going to do it – but only through His strength.
I like how Renee said “How did I know it was God? you might ask. Well, I knew it wasn’t my idea.” This reminds me of specific moments where I’ve felt inclined to do things that were just – not me. I knew that they were God and I knew that I had to do them. I want more moments like THAT!
I pray that He will help all of us to accomplish the things that we need to in order to be closer to Him. May His will be done – not ours – but His.
Hearing God speak has been a struggle for the last 3 years. I owned my own small business and it flourished. After about 7 years, I strongly felt God leading me away from it. So I laid it down, waiting for what great “next” thing God has for me. But God has been quiet. I have not sensed a direction, I have not sensed a purpose, I have not sensed a command-for 3 years. Often, I’ve told God that I would obey…if I just knew what to do!
I am a wife…but that’s it. Not a mom, not a business owner anymore. Nothing. When Renee said, “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,”-well, that’s me to a “T”. And I don’t even have the “mom” part! I feel like the “best years” of my life are slipping away with nothing “great” to show for it. Do you know the hardest part? When I meet people, and they ask me what I do for living. Do you know the answer? “Nothing. I don’t do anything. I don’t go out to work, I don’t own a business, I’m not a mom. I’m nothing.” This is the hardest thing because it reinforces the fact that I’m nothing special. I don’t DO anything that is something only I can fill. Sure, I know I’m a child of God, but that’s a little awkward to answer: “Hi! My name is Melissa and though I don’t do anything here on Earth, I am a valued Daughter of God.” How I wish that the Lord would yell down from the sky, “CHILD! THIS IS WHAT I HAVE FOR YOU!”…but I would also settle for an email.
Melissa! Take heart! God is doing a great thing inside of you! Someday you will look back and this will be a part of your ministry!
I feel the same as you at work sometimes – people ask me “What do you?” and I reply “Emergency Management.” Then they ask what that means… what do you actually DO? Often times it really feels like nothing. God is telling me, however, and I know that He feels the same for you, each moment that we spend doing SOMETHING is a time to be thanking God for our abilities. If you’re washing clothes or dishes – thank You, Father, that I can wash clothes and dishes because they mean that we are warm and not hungry! If you’re cleaning house – thank You, Father, that I have this house to clean!
I pray that He will fill your heart with all of the greatest desires and doors that you deserve. He knows that you are waiting and He will fill you up with more than you can ever dream as long as you persevere. He loves you and it is BIG to be a Valued Daughter of God – don’t ever think it’s anything less than stellar, spectacular, wonderful, the BEST and most IMPORTANT “job” there ever will be!
Seek Him, just as you are, and you will find Him.
Thank you, Leah. Bless you, for your wise words.
Melissa! I don’t know if you will see this since I am a day late reading these, but what struck me immediately is to reinforce that you do plenty and are called by God already. A wife is a precious thing to God and his design for marriage. Being your husband’s helpmate, his confidante is a significant role in your success as a couple. This world needs strong marriages and couples who model that. If you are not working outside the home then I assume you take care of the house, groceries, laundry, cooking, errands that are a daily part of running a home–even for just 2 people. I do feel your frustration–if you ran a business then you are used to being active, useful etc. These online studies are powerful, but if you have the free time, why not join a women’s Bible study at a local church? Pray about it. Listen. He will speak to you!
I need to be quiet and listen. I am so blessed by reading His word. I have committed to reading His word every morning and praying, BUT the next step is to be quiet and listen to His voice, to trust and wait in expectation. That is hard for me.
The one thing I am learning is to discipline myself to keeping my focus (thoughts, inclinations) on the LORD
One of the things I have been learning to do is going into my prayer closet first thing in the morning with my Bible, pen and journal and sit quietly and listen. At first it was hard for me but the more I’m consistent with giving God the first morning hours the easier this has become. I love being in my prayer closet because there are no distractions like phone, computer, family, etc.
Thank you Renee for this study.
For me, it is simply spending more time with Him and reading the Word. If we don’t know the Word, then we can’t accurately judge if the thoughts coming to us are Godly or not. As a homeschooling mom of 3 that is not always easy. My 4 year old will come in right in the middle of a prayer or if I lock my door he stands and knocks and says let me in mama! He is getting better as I’m trying to explain to him that I need to pray to Jesus. I think the more time we spend with Him and His Word, the more easily it is to discern His voice, Now the obeying part, that’s another thing. I need to promptly obey. I have missed numerous opportunities because I didn’t obey. That’s what I want to do.. Trust and Obey!
Blessings,
Michele S.
I need to listen. I need to extend my quiet time past the prayers and Bible study, and just sit and rest in His presence. And listen with heart and ears open, eager, and willing. He can speak to me. I need to believe that too. I am His child and I am important to Him.
Thanks for your words today. Be blessed.
First I want to thank you so much for blessing me with you devotional today! To be honest with you I’m not quite sure I know how to determine if God is speaking to me or not…I have the urge to wake up every morning to spend quality time with Him and in His word but something always comes up. I want my relationship with the Lord to grow and become stronger for two reasons…one because I know I need it to live a life that is pleasing to him and two because in todays verse it says, “What ever the Father does the Son does.” To me that is saying that my children see what I’m doing and eventually the things they see me do, they will also do. So I want to live a life pleasing to the Lord so that my children will also live a life pleasing to the Lord! Thanks again Miss Renee!
I seem to have gotten away from my worship time with Him and have sensed Him drawing me back. I also, tend to want to spend so much of my prayer time talking that I fail to just BE STILL and wait for Him to speak. I know when I’m trying to carry on a conversation with someone, be it my boss, a friend, a relative, or when I was married, my husband I feel unnoticed if they never let me say anything. Very frustrating! And last, but definitely not least, is get away from Facebook! I take away precious time from Him when I spend any time at all on Facebook. It can be a wonderful thing, but we have to learn to put it in the correct place of our priorities. Believe me, I’m definitely speaking to myself here! It’s something I’m having to learn!!
Have a God kissed day!
Tina Marmolejo
Praise God for a head cold! I got up to drink some tea, put more wood on the fire, cozy up with a blanket and the doxie dog, and start my Bible study. I look forward to my time spent with the other ladies in this study in the days ahead
Thank you so much for this devotion today. I often ask my self too is that God speaking? I am going clear my mind completely and sit quietly after devotions, reading and prayer to listen for God’s voice and for direction just for that day. I no longer need to worry about today or tomorrow, because God is with me holding my hand every step of the way if I just stop, listen, and feel his presence. Thank you again very much. Blessings April
Wow I didn’t realize how many people struggle with this… just knowing I’m not alone is encouraging! Probably the best thing I could do is to truly listen for God’s voice. Sometimes I’m just too impatient to wait for a response. The more I’ve felt a desire to be close to Him and know Him, the more I keep talking! Now that I’m thinking about it, lately I’ve been pouring my heart out and when I’m out of words to say it’s like I just get up and get busy. Maybe some quiet time is long overdue… and sounds like I definitely need to invest in this book!
To make sure to be in quiet time everyday with the Lord. And to be “expectant” to hear from him!
The insights that you wrote about are so helpfull, thanks Rene. One of the ways I want to hear God’s voice more clearly is in my journaling time, I read his word almost every day but seem to run out of quiet time before I can really listen to his voice speaking to me. And then when I do have time to journal that doubt creeps in about whether this is Jesus’ voice or mine. I have a new baby and three other beautiful children, so I really need to stay on my game with my quiet time, but it’s not always first thing in the morning and it’s not always uninterupted time. I’m going to pray to God to give me that extra strength to get up early in the morning to spend time with Him and when it just dosen’t happen I’m going to pray that I can abide in Him and Him in me and that I can still hear His voice as I go about the business of the day. I can record the little things I hear from Him in my journal, as I go through the day and reflect on them at night when everyone is asleep. It’s a pleasure to post this comment and read what other women have written. Got to go baby is crying. Blessings sisiters!
Hi Renee!
Thanks for the reminder that I know God Himself speaks to my heart – I just haven’t been listening like I should! I just need to BE STILL. Why is that so hard? It’s what I need to do, and I am starting today!
Thank you!
One thing that I am being reminded of lately, over and over again, is the need to abide. To be so closely connected to God on a moment by moment basis that it only makes sense to hear His voice and discern His direction for my life. I can get so busy doing, that I simply forget to be like Mary and sit a Jesus’ feet. Thanks for the reminder today to listen to God!
The best way that I have been able to draw closer is to shut out the noise of the world. The Lord has given me a block of quiet timw early every morning and it is such a precious gift! I was a get up and get on the computer person for a long time and when I finally took it to Him life has not been the same! Thank you Renee for the wonderful book and the blessing that it is becoming in my life!